Paul Slovic
Early Life and Education
Paul Slovic was born in 1938 in Chicago, Illinois. He completed his undergraduate studies at Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1959. He then pursued his graduate studies at the University of Michigan, where he received his Ph.D. in Psychology in 1964.
Career
Slovic began his career as a research scientist at the University of Oregon's Decision Research Institute, where he continues to work to this day. He has held the position of President of the institute since 1976. His research primarily focuses on human judgment, decision making, and risk perception.
Slovic is also a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon. He has published extensively in these areas, with over 500 articles and books to his credit. His work has been influential in shaping the field of behavioral economics and risk perception.
Research and Contributions
Slovic's research has significantly contributed to our understanding of risk perception and decision-making processes. He has explored the role of affect, or emotion, in judgments and decisions, demonstrating that people often rely on their emotions or gut feelings to make decisions, especially when faced with complex or uncertain situations.
One of his most well-known studies is the "psychometric paradigm," which examines how people perceive and evaluate risk. This research has shown that people's perceptions of risk are influenced by a variety of factors, including the perceived benefits of an activity, the dread associated with the potential outcomes, and the familiarity with the risk.
Slovic has also conducted research on the "numbing effect," which refers to the phenomenon where people become less sensitive to the value of life as the number of lives at risk increases. This research has important implications for public policy and decision making, particularly in areas such as disaster response and humanitarian aid.
Awards and Recognition
Over the course of his career, Slovic has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to the field of psychology. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2001 and received the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the American Psychological Association in 2007. He also received the Outstanding Contribution to Science Award from the Society for Risk Analysis in 2011.
Personal Life
Slovic is married and has two children. He resides in Eugene, Oregon.
See Also
