Perceptions of Risk

(There was a glitch with the board that wouldn’t let me post what I had typed. Here is what I had typed.)

I think I’ve posted this here before.

When I was still at university I read that younger males perceive themselves to be at low risk of violence but are actually at high risk. As we age, our fears increase. People 65 and older are most fearful yet are least at risk.

Another example. I always assumed that my police officer brother-in-law was in a high-risk occupation. Maybe 10 years ago someone told me I was wrong. I looked it up. At the time, the highest risk occupations where I lived were taxi driver, mining, and commercial fishing. (I don’t know what the occupations are now.) Police officer was actually quite far done the list.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Occupations in Canada

Yes, people will make irrational decisions based on misperceptions. Yes, people in places like Zihuatanejo will suffer from those irrational fears and irrational decisions.