Perceived breast cancer risk: Heuristic reasoning and search for a dominance structure
Studies suggest that people construct their risk perceptions by using inferential rules called heuristics. The purpose of this study was to identify heuristics that influence perceived breast cancer risk. We examined 11 interviews from women of diverse ethnic/cultural backgrounds who were recruited from community settings. Narratives in which women elaborated about their own breast cancer risk were analyzed with Argument and Heuristic Reasoning Analysis methodology, which is based on applied logic. The availability, simulation, representativeness, affect, and perceived control heuristics, and search for a dominance structure were commonly used for making risk assessments. Risk assessments were based on experiences with an abnormal breast symptom, experiences with affected family members and friends, beliefs about living a healthy lifestyle, and trust in health providers. Assessment of the potential threat of a breast symptom was facilitated by the search for a dominance structure. Experiences with family members and friends were incorporated into risk assessments through the availability, simulation, representativeness, and affect heuristics. Mistrust in health providers led to an inappropriate dependence on the perceived control heuristic. Identified heuristics appear to create predictable biases and suggest that perceived breast cancer risk is based on common cognitive patterns. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Duke Scholars
Published In
DOI
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Women's Health
- Risk Assessment
- Public Health
- Physician-Patient Relations
- Patient Acceptance of Health Care
- Narration
- Middle Aged
- Logic
- Interviews as Topic
- Interpersonal Relations
Citation
Published In
DOI
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Women's Health
- Risk Assessment
- Public Health
- Physician-Patient Relations
- Patient Acceptance of Health Care
- Narration
- Middle Aged
- Logic
- Interviews as Topic
- Interpersonal Relations