Publication
Risk talk—but not if it rocks the boat. perceived social risk acceptability and risk talk engagement in the Netherlands
This article, by Sara Perlstein, explores how perceived social acceptability shapes whether people talk about risks, showing that risk perceptions and conversations are socially negotiated rather than purely individual.
- Author
- Sara Perlstein
- Date
- 02 December 2025
- Links
- Read the full article here
The study examines how seeing certain recreational risks as ‘normal’ or socially accepted affects people’s willingness to discuss those risks with others. It treats risk perception as something that emerges within social contexts, influenced by community norms and shared understandings rather than being a purely personal judgement. Using linear regression and structural equation modelling on multiple recreational risks with different levels of social acceptance, the authors test whether higher perceived acceptability reduces engagement in risk talk.
The results show that when people perceive a risk as more socially acceptable, they are less likely to engage in conversations about that risk. This effect works largely through two mechanisms: people’s willingness to take the risk and their perception of how serious the risk is. Even after accounting for these factors, a smaller but robust direct effect of perceived social acceptability on risk talk remains, suggesting that social norms independently dampen discussion. The structural equation model (SEM) reveals a directional pattern between risk perception, risk talk, and social, informational, and benefit-related factors, indicating that risk perception operates less as an independent driver and more as a conduit through which these social and informational influences shape how people understand and discuss risk.