Skeptic Check: Feeling Risky*

Big Picture Science

It’s not just facts that inform our decisions. They’re also guided by how those facts feel. From deciding whether to buckle our seat belts to addressing climate change, how we regard risk is subjective. In this extended conversation with an expert on the psychology of risk, find out about our exaggerated fears, as well as risks we don’t take seriously enough. Meanwhile, while experts warn society about the dangers of self-aware AI – are those warnings being heeded?

Guest:

David Ropeik – Professor emeritus Harvard University, and expert on the psychology of risk

*Originally aired April 10, 2023

Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake

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