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Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived But Unreal Risk?

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Re: Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived But Unreal Risk?

#3
post #2

What's the difference between perceived and real? Someone preceiving it thinks it's plenty real. I've never been in a traffic accident - is the need for seat belts and air bags real?

The perceived danger is that a stranger will kidnap your children if you let them walk to and from the park. The real danger is they're more likely to be kidnapped if you leave them at home with friends or relatives.

Re: Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived But Unreal Risk?

#5
post #2

What's the difference between perceived and real? Someone preceiving it thinks it's plenty real. I've never been in a traffic accident - is the need for seat belts and air bags real?

Perception: there's a 75% chance my kid will be kidnapped by a pedophile. Reality: there's a 0.01% chance of the pedophile kidnap, but a 75% chance of drowning in the bathtub.

Numbers are made up.

Perception is not reality.

Another example: Trayvon Martin was a dark-skinned young male wearing a hoodie. Perception: he is a criminal casing the houses in order to commit a future crime. Reality: he was a kid walking home to his house.

Other examples: * Perception of the likelihood of terrorist attack, vs likelihood of dying in a fatal traffic crash.

* Perception that vaccinations cause autism, vs reality that vaccinations prevent fatal disease.

Re: Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived But Unreal Risk?

#6
post #3
post #2

What's the difference between perceived and real? Someone preceiving it thinks it's plenty real. I've never been in a traffic accident - is the need for seat belts and air bags real?

The perceived danger is that a stranger will kidnap your children if you let them walk to and from the park. The real danger is they're more likely to be kidnapped if you leave them at home with friends or relatives.

I once read that for every 2 kids kidnapped by a stranger, someone is killed by a lightning strike. This was backed up by stats.

Re: Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived But Unreal Risk?

#7
post #2

What's the difference between perceived and real? Someone preceiving it thinks it's plenty real. I've never been in a traffic accident - is the need for seat belts and air bags real?

statistics. statistics is the difference. Somebody's gut feeling(WAG) vs. actually observed frequency.

Re: Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived But Unreal Risk?

#8
post #5
post #2

What's the difference between perceived and real? Someone preceiving it thinks it's plenty real. I've never been in a traffic accident - is the need for seat belts and air bags real?

Perception: there's a 75% chance my kid will be kidnapped by a pedophile. Reality: there's a 0.01% chance of the pedophile kidnap, but a 75% chance of drowning in the bathtub. Numbers are made up. Perception is not reality. Another example: Trayvon Martin was a dark-skinned young male wearing a hoodie. Perception: he is a criminal casing the houses in order to commit a future crime. Reality: he was a kid walking home…

The question is, would the factual probability go up if the perceived probability goes down? ;)

Re: Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived But Unreal Risk?

#9
post #2

What's the difference between perceived and real? Someone preceiving it thinks it's plenty real. I've never been in a traffic accident - is the need for seat belts and air bags real?

The difference is one is true and backed by logic and statistics while the other is false and rooted in emotion?

It's an important distinction because it's impossible to have a discussion about how to manage risk without first having a true understanding about what the real risks are.

Re: Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived But Unreal Risk?

#10
post #2

What's the difference between perceived and real? Someone preceiving it thinks it's plenty real. I've never been in a traffic accident - is the need for seat belts and air bags real?

I guess . . . read the article. The study showed the perceived risk varied depending on moral judgments about why the child was left alone even though the facts of the case were otherwise identical. Moreover, it showed significant tendency towards negative moral judgments even in cases where events were completely outside the parent's control.
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