Why People Don ' t Act – Even When They Know the Risk
� Information overload� � Cost concerns� � Low social norm:“ No one I know has tested.” � � Temporal distance� � Emotional fatigue�
“ When the problem is invisible and the pain is delayed, empathy and design— not data— drive action.”
From Awareness to Empowerment
Behavioral science teaches that effective campaigns don’ t just inform— they guide. To help individuals move from awareness to action, communication must address both logic and emotion.
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Make the Invisible Visible: Use visuals and local data to show radon’ s reach. � Normalize Testing: Make it as routine as checking smoke alarms. � Empower, Don’ t Alarm: Pair warnings with solutions. � Provide Support Pathways: Connect readers to test kits and professionals. � Highlight Success Stories: Real examples inspire action. �
A Call to the Collective Mind
The science is clear. The tools exist. What remains uncertain is our collective psychology— our willingness to act. Radon risk reduction is not only a technical or environmental challenge; it is a behavioral and moral one. Overcoming the inertia between knowledge and action requires empathy, trust, and repeated engagement.
“ The real test is not for radon— it’ s for humanity’ s capacity to care enough to act.”
Source Attribution The stepwise model is adapted from:
Lindsay, S. T., & Morgan, K.( 2018). Psychological processes underlying decisions to test and remediate radon exposure risk. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 60, 83 – 92. https:// doi. org / 10.1016 / j. jenvp. 2018.10.001