Neil D Weinstein
Biographic Data
| ID | 334448 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Neil D Weinstein |
| GIVEN NAMES | Neil D |
| FAMILY NAME | Weinstein |
| SIGNATURE | WEINSTEIN N D |
| AFFILIATIONS | Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 29 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 303 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 28 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1980 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Variations in Unrealistic Optimism Between Acceptors and Decliners of Early Phase Cancer Trials
Research has found that patient-subjects in early phase cancer trials exhibit unrealistic optimism regarding the risks and possible benefits of trial participation. Unrealistic optimism is associated with therapeutic misconception and failures to appreciate research-related information. This is the first study to assess whether those who decline to participate in these trials also exhibit unrealistic optimism. It is also the first study to assess…
Health Risk Appraisal and Optimistic Bias
A Primer on Unrealistic Optimism
People display unrealistic optimism in their predictions about countless events, believing that their personal future outcomes will be more desirable than can possibly be true. We summarize the vast literature on unrealistic optimism by focusing on four broad questions: What is unrealistic optimism, when does it occur, why does it occur, and what are its consequences? Unrealistic optimism can be operationalized in multiple ways; is commonplace ye…
Examining intuitive risk perceptions for cancer in diverse populations
In this article we examine intuitive dimensions of personal cancer risk likelihood, which theory and empirical evidence indicate may be important elements in the risk perception process. We draw on data from a study of risk perceptions in three social groups, university students, men living in the community, and primary care patients living in urban area. The study took place in 2007-2011, in New York State (Garden City and New York City) and Bos…
Taking Stock of Unrealistic Optimism
Researchers have used terms such as unrealistic optimism and optimistic bias to refer to concepts that are similar but not synonymous. Drawing from 3 decades of research, we discuss critically how researchers define unrealistic optimism, and we identify four types that reflect different measurement approaches: unrealistic absolute optimism at the individual and group levels and unrealistic comparative optimism at the individual and group levels. …
Meta-analysis of the relationship between risk perception and health behavior
Risk perceptions
OBJECTIVE: Accurate measurement of beliefs about risk probability is essential to determine what role these beliefs have in health behavior. This study investigated the ability of several types of risk perception measures and of other constructs from health behavior theories to predict influenza vaccination. DESIGN: Prospective study in which students, faculty, and staff at 3 universities (N = 428) were interviewed in the fall, before influenza v…
The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS)
Little is known about access, sources, and trust of cancer-related information, or factors that facilitate or hinder communication on a population-wide basis. Through a careful developmental process involving extensive input from many individuals and organizations, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) developed the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) to help fill this gap. This nationally representative telephone survey of 6,369 pers…
Risk perceptions and their relation to risk behavior
BACKGROUND: Because risk perceptions can affect protective behavior and protective behavior can affect risk perceptions, the relations between these 2 constructs are complex and incorrect tests often lead to invalid conclusions. PURPOSE: To discuss and carry out appropriate tests of 3 easily confused hypotheses: (a). the behavior motivation hypothesis (perceptions of personal risk cause people to take protective action), (b). the risk reappraisal…
Stage theories of health behavior
Despite growing interest in stage theories of health behavior, there is considerable confusion in the literature concerning the essential characteristics of stage theories and the manner in which such theories should be tested. In this article, the 4 key characteristics of a stage theory-a category system, an ordering of categories, similar barriers to change within categories, and different barriers to change between categories--are discussed in…
Unrealistic Optimism
Resistance of personal risk perceptions to debiasing interventions
Testing four competing theories of health-protective behavior.
Four competing theories of health-protective behavior are reviewed: the health belief model, the theory of reasoned action, protection motivation theory, and subjective expected utility theory. In spite of their commonalities, these models are seldom tested against one another. The review points out the similarities and differences among these theories and the data and analyses needed to compare them. In addition to describing the content of the …
Correct and incorrect interpretations of correlations between risk perceptions and risk behaviors
A model of the precaution adoption process
Predicting Homeowners' Mitigation Responses to Radon Test Data
Radon gas can accumulate indoors to levels that present a serious lung cancer risk. Six data sets were examined to discover what homeowners do to cope with this hazard after they have tested for radon. The best predictors of mitigation intentions proved to be global appraisals of threat plus the radon levels themselves. Translating these intentions into action, however, seemed to reflect situational obstacles rather than beliefs about radon risk,…
Optimistic Biases About Personal Risks
Promoting Remedial Response to the Risk of Radon
New Jersey residents who tested their homes for radon and found more than four picocuries per liter were surveyed (and a subsample interviewed) about their knowledge, emotions, attitudes, and intentions to take remedial action Respondents proved well informed, but radon levels were not highly correlated with any of the response variables. Overoptimism was more common than overreaction. The results suggest that active guidance is needed to ensure …
Taking Care
Weinstein Part I. Theoretical Perspectives: 1. Behavioural decision theory perspectives on protective behaviour Paul Slovic, Baruch Fischhoff and Sarah Lichtenstein 2. Social learning theory and preventive behaviour Alfred McAlister 3. The role of emotion and psychological defense in self-protective behaviour James R. Averill 4. The diffusion of innovations perspective Everett M. Rogers 5. Cultural influences on prevention and the emergence of a …
Effects of personal experience on self-protective behavior
This article seeks to further our understanding of self-protective behavior by examining the effects of a particularly powerful stimulus to action: personal experience. It reviews the effects of automobile accidents on seat belt use, criminal victimization other than rape on individual crime prevention efforts, natural hazards experience on both natural hazards preparedness and compliance with evacuation warnings, and myocardial infarction on smo…
Taking Care
The precaution adoption process
Unrealistic optimism about susceptibility to health problems
Taking Care
Taking Care examines the reasons why people take precautions - and the reasons why they do not. Some authors offer theoretical perspectives on issues ranging from the cognitive processes of the individual to the values and historical trends in the larger society to illuminate the puzzle of self-protective behaviour. Others look at prevention programmes themselves: the forms they take, the assumptions they make, and the success or failure they mee…
Public Response to the Risk from Geological Radon
Journal Article Public Response to the Risk from Geological Radon Get access Peter M. Sandman, Peter M. Sandman 1Peter M. Sandman is Professor of Environmental Journalism at Rutgers University and Director of the Environmental Communication Research Program of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Neil D. Weinstein, Neil D. Weinstein 2Neil D. Weinstein is Associate …
Unrealistic optimism about future life events
Two studies investigated the tendency of people to be unrealistically optimistic about future life events. In Study 1, 258 college students estimated how much their own chances of experiencing 42 events differed from the chances of their classmates. Overall, they rated their own chances to be above average for posi-tive events and below average for negative events, ps<.001. Cognitive and motivational considerations led to predictions that degree …
Effects of personal experience on self-protective behavior
This article seeks to further our understanding of self-protective behavior by examining the effects of a particularly powerful stimulus to action: personal experience. It reviews the effects of automobile accidents on seat belt use, criminal victimization other than rape on individual crime prevention efforts, natural hazards experience on both natural hazards preparedness and compliance with evacuation warnings, and myocardial infarction on smo…
Public Response to the Risk from Geological Radon
Journal Article Public Response to the Risk from Geological Radon Get access Peter M. Sandman, Peter M. Sandman 1Peter M. Sandman is Professor of Environmental Journalism at Rutgers University and Director of the Environmental Communication Research Program of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Neil D. Weinstein, Neil D. Weinstein 2Neil D. Weinstein is Associate …
Taking Care
Nonauditory Effects of Noise on Behavior and Health
This article presents an overview of research and theory on the nonauditory effects of noise on human behavior and health. Laboratory and naturalistic research on the effects of noise on human performance, interpersonal behavior, annoyance, cognitive development, and mental and physical health are reviewed. The review includes studies of children as well as adults, and the discussion emphasizes the relevance of this research for predicting the ef…
Promoting Remedial Response to the Risk of Radon
New Jersey residents who tested their homes for radon and found more than four picocuries per liter were surveyed (and a subsample interviewed) about their knowledge, emotions, attitudes, and intentions to take remedial action Respondents proved well informed, but radon levels were not highly correlated with any of the response variables. Overoptimism was more common than overreaction. The results suggest that active guidance is needed to ensure …
Predicting Homeowners' Mitigation Responses to Radon Test Data
Radon gas can accumulate indoors to levels that present a serious lung cancer risk. Six data sets were examined to discover what homeowners do to cope with this hazard after they have tested for radon. The best predictors of mitigation intentions proved to be global appraisals of threat plus the radon levels themselves. Translating these intentions into action, however, seemed to reflect situational obstacles rather than beliefs about radon risk,…
Unrealistic optimism about future life events
Two studies investigated the tendency of people to be unrealistically optimistic about future life events. In Study 1, 258 college students estimated how much their own chances of experiencing 42 events differed from the chances of their classmates. Overall, they rated their own chances to be above average for posi-tive events and below average for negative events, ps<.001. Cognitive and motivational considerations led to predictions that degree …
Nonauditory Effects of Noise on Behavior and Health
This article presents an overview of research and theory on the nonauditory effects of noise on human behavior and health. Laboratory and naturalistic research on the effects of noise on human performance, interpersonal behavior, annoyance, cognitive development, and mental and physical health are reviewed. The review includes studies of children as well as adults, and the discussion emphasizes the relevance of this research for predicting the ef…
Unrealistic optimism about susceptibility to health problems
Why it won't happen to me
Unrealistic optimism about susceptibility to health problems
Taking Care
Taking Care examines the reasons why people take precautions - and the reasons why they do not. Some authors offer theoretical perspectives on issues ranging from the cognitive processes of the individual to the values and historical trends in the larger society to illuminate the puzzle of self-protective behaviour. Others look at prevention programmes themselves: the forms they take, the assumptions they make, and the success or failure they mee…
Public Response to the Risk from Geological Radon
Journal Article Public Response to the Risk from Geological Radon Get access Peter M. Sandman, Peter M. Sandman 1Peter M. Sandman is Professor of Environmental Journalism at Rutgers University and Director of the Environmental Communication Research Program of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Neil D. Weinstein, Neil D. Weinstein 2Neil D. Weinstein is Associate …
The precaution adoption process
Optimistic Biases About Personal Risks
Promoting Remedial Response to the Risk of Radon
New Jersey residents who tested their homes for radon and found more than four picocuries per liter were surveyed (and a subsample interviewed) about their knowledge, emotions, attitudes, and intentions to take remedial action Respondents proved well informed, but radon levels were not highly correlated with any of the response variables. Overoptimism was more common than overreaction. The results suggest that active guidance is needed to ensure …
Taking Care
Weinstein Part I. Theoretical Perspectives: 1. Behavioural decision theory perspectives on protective behaviour Paul Slovic, Baruch Fischhoff and Sarah Lichtenstein 2. Social learning theory and preventive behaviour Alfred McAlister 3. The role of emotion and psychological defense in self-protective behaviour James R. Averill 4. The diffusion of innovations perspective Everett M. Rogers 5. Cultural influences on prevention and the emergence of a …
Effects of personal experience on self-protective behavior
This article seeks to further our understanding of self-protective behavior by examining the effects of a particularly powerful stimulus to action: personal experience. It reviews the effects of automobile accidents on seat belt use, criminal victimization other than rape on individual crime prevention efforts, natural hazards experience on both natural hazards preparedness and compliance with evacuation warnings, and myocardial infarction on smo…
Taking Care
A model of the precaution adoption process
Predicting Homeowners' Mitigation Responses to Radon Test Data
Radon gas can accumulate indoors to levels that present a serious lung cancer risk. Six data sets were examined to discover what homeowners do to cope with this hazard after they have tested for radon. The best predictors of mitigation intentions proved to be global appraisals of threat plus the radon levels themselves. Translating these intentions into action, however, seemed to reflect situational obstacles rather than beliefs about radon risk,…
Testing four competing theories of health-protective behavior.
Four competing theories of health-protective behavior are reviewed: the health belief model, the theory of reasoned action, protection motivation theory, and subjective expected utility theory. In spite of their commonalities, these models are seldom tested against one another. The review points out the similarities and differences among these theories and the data and analyses needed to compare them. In addition to describing the content of the …
Correct and incorrect interpretations of correlations between risk perceptions and risk behaviors
Resistance of personal risk perceptions to debiasing interventions
Unrealistic Optimism
Stage theories of health behavior
Despite growing interest in stage theories of health behavior, there is considerable confusion in the literature concerning the essential characteristics of stage theories and the manner in which such theories should be tested. In this article, the 4 key characteristics of a stage theory-a category system, an ordering of categories, similar barriers to change within categories, and different barriers to change between categories--are discussed in…
The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS)
Little is known about access, sources, and trust of cancer-related information, or factors that facilitate or hinder communication on a population-wide basis. Through a careful developmental process involving extensive input from many individuals and organizations, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) developed the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) to help fill this gap. This nationally representative telephone survey of 6,369 pers…
Risk perceptions and their relation to risk behavior
BACKGROUND: Because risk perceptions can affect protective behavior and protective behavior can affect risk perceptions, the relations between these 2 constructs are complex and incorrect tests often lead to invalid conclusions. PURPOSE: To discuss and carry out appropriate tests of 3 easily confused hypotheses: (a). the behavior motivation hypothesis (perceptions of personal risk cause people to take protective action), (b). the risk reappraisal…
Meta-analysis of the relationship between risk perception and health behavior
Risk perceptions
OBJECTIVE: Accurate measurement of beliefs about risk probability is essential to determine what role these beliefs have in health behavior. This study investigated the ability of several types of risk perception measures and of other constructs from health behavior theories to predict influenza vaccination. DESIGN: Prospective study in which students, faculty, and staff at 3 universities (N = 428) were interviewed in the fall, before influenza v…
Taking Stock of Unrealistic Optimism
Researchers have used terms such as unrealistic optimism and optimistic bias to refer to concepts that are similar but not synonymous. Drawing from 3 decades of research, we discuss critically how researchers define unrealistic optimism, and we identify four types that reflect different measurement approaches: unrealistic absolute optimism at the individual and group levels and unrealistic comparative optimism at the individual and group levels. …
Psychology (27 works) · Social Psychology (19 works) · Medicine (15 works) · Risk Perception and Management (11 works) · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being (10 works) · Computer Science (9 works) · Perception (9 works) · Optimism (8 works) · Behavioral Health and Interventions (7 works) · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics (7 works)