Many people are making behavioral choices about their finances, careers and lifestyles that they think will protect them from any possible Y2K-related negative effects.
But they may actually be putting themselves in more danger, says Donald MacGregor, a psychologist studying "Public Perception of Y2K Risks" through the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Decision, Risk and Management Science program.
MacGregor, a senior research psychologist at Decision Science Research Institute in Eugene, Oregon, says, "Though technical experts generally predict that Y2K problems are likely to be either non-existent or minor, they cannot conclude with certainty that no problems will occur. To many people, it looks like they don't know the answer to the question: 'Am I safe?'
"The Y2K bug makes them feel they've been taken advantage of," he continues. Therefore, some people actually may feel less risk from voluntarily parachuting out of a plane than they do from dealing with an ATM machine or utility over which they have no control.
The NSF is making MacGregor available to broadcast and print media from Tuesday, June 22 until early January, 2000 to provide expert commentary on people's behavioral decisions based on their Y2K-related fears and concerns, and to discuss his own research on the subject.
Dr. Donald MacGregor, Research Psychologist,
Expert commentary on "Public Perception of Y2K Risks" - and
related behavioral choices
From Tuesday, June 22 until early January, 2000
Decision Science Research Institute, Eugene, Oregon 541-485-2400; pslovic2@oregon.uoregon.edu
For more information contact:
Joel Blumenthal 703-306-1070/ jblument@nsf.gov