An RSI Understanding Risk method
Behavioral science
Behavioral science is one of the methods used by Risk Sciences International to better understand risk.
Broadly
Behavioral science examines how cognitive biases, heuristics, social norms, and emotional responses shape how people perceive and respond to risk. Rooted in psychology and behavioral economics, it explores phenomena like risk aversion, trust, framing effects, and decision fatigue. This method is increasingly used to explain why technically sound interventions fail or why populations do not act on high-quality information. Its strengths lie in its predictive insight into human behavior, while its weaknesses include variability across cultures and challenges in scaling behavioral predictions.
More specifically
RSI applies behavioral science to inform both the design and interpretation of its risk assessments. This may include modeling risk tolerance, designing behavioral indicators for surveys, or anticipating how different groups may respond to risk mitigation strategies. RSI integrates behavioral assumptions into technical modeling and qualitative stakeholder work, offering clients a richer understanding of how risk is not just understood, but lived. This improves foresight and responsiveness in both policy and operational contexts.