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Factors governing human fear of brown bear and wolf

Johansson, Maria LU orcid ; Karlsson, Jens ; Pedersen, Eja LU and Flykt, Anders (2012) In Human Dimensions of Wildlife 17(1). p.58-74
Abstract
This article analyzes people's subjectively experienced fear in areas with presence of brown bear or wolf. Departing from the Human-Environment Interaction Model (Küller, R. 1991) a hypothetical model of environmental and individual antecedents of fear was tested using structural equation modeling of survey data (n = 391). In the model of fear of brown bear, the main predictor was the appraisal of the species as dangerous/uncontrollable and unpredictable. In the model of fear of wolf, the greater experience with the species and a stronger appraisal of wolf as dangerous, uncontrollable, and unpredictable led to low social trust and this, together with the appraisal of wolf as dangerous/uncontrollable and unpredictable, increased the... (More)
This article analyzes people's subjectively experienced fear in areas with presence of brown bear or wolf. Departing from the Human-Environment Interaction Model (Küller, R. 1991) a hypothetical model of environmental and individual antecedents of fear was tested using structural equation modeling of survey data (n = 391). In the model of fear of brown bear, the main predictor was the appraisal of the species as dangerous/uncontrollable and unpredictable. In the model of fear of wolf, the greater experience with the species and a stronger appraisal of wolf as dangerous, uncontrollable, and unpredictable led to low social trust and this, together with the appraisal of wolf as dangerous/uncontrollable and unpredictable, increased the likelihood of fear. Efforts to reduce human fear of wolves should focus on building trust between the public and authorities, whereas efforts to reduce fear of brown bear should focus on the individual's appraisal of the species. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
subjectively experienced fear, brown bear, wolf, cognitive vulnerability model, social trust, structural equation modeling
in
Human Dimensions of Wildlife
volume
17
issue
1
pages
58 - 74
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:84857247013
ISSN
1533-158X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
419ba747-a65b-49d1-b92a-6950f3bf9ef3 (old id 3459226)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:07:05
date last changed
2024-01-07 08:42:18
@article{419ba747-a65b-49d1-b92a-6950f3bf9ef3,
  abstract     = {{This article analyzes people's subjectively experienced fear in areas with presence of brown bear or wolf. Departing from the Human-Environment Interaction Model (Küller, R. 1991) a hypothetical model of environmental and individual antecedents of fear was tested using structural equation modeling of survey data (n = 391). In the model of fear of brown bear, the main predictor was the appraisal of the species as dangerous/uncontrollable and unpredictable. In the model of fear of wolf, the greater experience with the species and a stronger appraisal of wolf as dangerous, uncontrollable, and unpredictable led to low social trust and this, together with the appraisal of wolf as dangerous/uncontrollable and unpredictable, increased the likelihood of fear. Efforts to reduce human fear of wolves should focus on building trust between the public and authorities, whereas efforts to reduce fear of brown bear should focus on the individual's appraisal of the species.}},
  author       = {{Johansson, Maria and Karlsson, Jens and Pedersen, Eja and Flykt, Anders}},
  issn         = {{1533-158X}},
  keywords     = {{subjectively experienced fear; brown bear; wolf; cognitive vulnerability model; social trust; structural equation modeling}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{58--74}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Human Dimensions of Wildlife}},
  title        = {{Factors governing human fear of brown bear and wolf}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}