Changes in the influence of affect and cognition over time on consumer attitude formation toward nanotechnology: A longitudinal survey study

Abstract

Insights into how consumer attitudes toward nanotechnology are formed and develop are crucial for understanding and anticipating possible barriers in consumer acceptance of nanotechnology applications. In this study, the influence of affect and cognition on overall opinion is investigated longitudinally for emerging nanotechnologies, and compared with conventional technologies. Overall, in attitude formation toward nanotechnology applications, people rely relatively more on affect than cognition. Over time, reliance on affect decreases whereas reliance on cognition increases for nanotechnology. This suggests that over time nanotechnology applications have become somewhat more integrated within people's already existing knowledge structure. However, for conventional technologies the influence of affect and cognition on overall attitude remains stable over time. The current study shows that it is essential to address both affective and cognitive aspects of public opinion of nanotechnology.

Risk and benefit perceptions of human enhancement technologies: The effects of Facebook comments on the acceptance of nanodesigned food

“…This suggests that the high level of experience with social media does not detrimentally affect the generalizability of our results.Regarding the level of knowledge on nanodesigned food and the attitude toward it, the situation in the Netherlands seems to correspond to the international scene. Knowledge on nanotechnology is low and attitudes are not yet strongly established(Van Giesen, Fischer, & Van Trijp, 2018). The generalizability of our findings is thus not detrimentally affected by the level of knowledge on nanodesigned food in the Netherlands.4.3 | Implication for risk communication practiceOur study showed that social media expressions by other people without obvious expertise may affect the individual's views regarding a human enhancement technology.…”

“…Regarding the level of knowledge on nanodesigned food and the attitude toward it, the situation in the Netherlands seems to correspond to the international scene. Knowledge on nanotechnology is low and attitudes are not yet strongly established (Van Giesen, Fischer, & Van Trijp, ). The generalizability of our findings is thus not detrimentally affected by the level of knowledge on nanodesigned food in the Netherlands.…”

Materials sovereignty: Pathways for shaping nanotechnology design

“…In practice, very few actors in the nanotechnology industry are realizing these principles, mostly because they are not being held accountable by societies for their decisions. Yet nanomaterials are still at an early, if rapidly evolving, stage of development: intervention now could result in risk reduction later (van Broekhuizen and Reijnders, 2011).…”

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