The Role of Affect in Attitude Formation toward New Technologies: The Case of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection

Abstract

Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. This paper analyzes determinants of technology acceptance and their interdependence. It highlights the role of affect in attitude formation toward new technologies and examines how it mediates the influence of stable psychological variables on technology acceptance. Based on theory and previous empirical evidence, we develop an analytical framework of attitude formation. We test this framework using survey data on the acceptance of stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), a technology that could be used to counteract global warming. We show that affect is more important than risk and benefit perception in forming judgment about SAI. Negative and positive affect directly alter the perception of risks and benefits of SAI and its acceptability. Furthermore, affect is an important mediator between stable psychological variables -like trust in government, values, and attitudes -and acceptance. A person's affective response is thus guided by her general attitudes and values. Terms of use: Documents in

Public Acceptance of Fully Automated Driving: Effects of Social Trust and Risk/Benefit Perceptions

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“…The information was provided by a short video operating with animated infographics. For further information on design and procedure, we refer our readers to the original publications (2012 survey: Merk, Pönitzsch, Kniebes, Rehdanz, & Schmidt, 2015;Merk & Pönitzsch, 2017;survey: Braun, Merk, Pönitzsch, Rehdanz, & Schmidt, 2018.…”

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