Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2017
An Evaluation of Information Meetings as a Tool for Addressing Fear of Large Carnivores
Johansson, Maria; Frank, Jens; Stoen, Ole-Gunnar; Flykt, AndersAbstract
Managing authorities in Scandinavia arrange public information meetings when members of the public express fear because wolves or brown bears approach human settlements. This study aimed to increase the understanding of the potential effect of information meetings on self-reported fear of wolves and brown bears. In total, 198 participants completed questionnaires before and after the information meetings. Nine follow-up interviews were held 1 year later. The quantitative analyses revealed that participants who found the information credible reported a significant increase in social trust and a decrease in vulnerability and fear. The qualitative analyses pointed to the importance of information content and meta-communication, for example, nonverbal cues. It is proposed that, among participants who find the information credible, information meetings may change the appraisal of wolves and brown bears, and therefore they might prove useful as an intervention to address fear of these animals.Keywords
Brown bears; fear; information; interventions; wolvesPublished in
Society and Natural Resources2017, volume: 30, number: 3, pages: 281-298
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
Authors' information
Johansson, Maria
Lund University
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
Flykt, Anders
Mid Sweden University
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG4 Quality education
UKÄ Subject classification
Fish and Wildlife Management
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2016.1239290
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/94234