why harmful rumors about Fukushima-produced food continue?

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K17246
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Social psychology
• Research Institution: Meiji University (2017); Hokkaido University of Education (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: HIGUCHI OSAMU 明治大学, 政治経済学部, 専任講師 (50625879)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 行動免疫システム / リバウンド効果 / 食品の風評被害

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A few years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, but survey studies reported that consumers had had concerns over the safety of Fukushima-produced food. According to behavioral immune system theory, illness concerns facilitate risk-avoidance cognition and behavior. Based on this theory, we tested the possibility that these concerns would promote aversion against Fukushima-produced food. In addition, we tested the possibility that the informational leaflets, which the public administration distributed to dispel these concerns, were not always effective. A series of experiments confirmed these possibilities.

Free Research Field

社会心理学