Perhaps this explains why we loathe nuclear power but ignore the radioactive threat of natural radon gas. Risks imposed on us seem worse. We can decide if we want to risk swimming, but when a hazardous waste incinerator sprouts next door we feel powerless and panicky. Risks with an obvious benefit are less daunting. One reason we give appreciative ratings to X-rays and surgery is that we focus on the payoff.
Risks associated with complex technologies and catastrophes are greater.
This is partly because the media dwell on catastrophes. In light of how we estimate risk, our fears don't seem quite so silly. . They reflect our notions of fairness and our desire for control over our lives. And that explains the big smile on my face every time I tempt fate by eating a peanut butter sandwich in the car on the way to the pool. Vocabulary Framing , n.