The radio hosts need ratings, and right now listeners are only interested in the election. Start talking about ICANN, which most do not understand, and the listeners will turn the dial.
“People who see a warning must decide whether or not to comply. However, “warning viewers” (people for whom the warning is intended) are not blanks slates but rather start with a mental model containing three components. First, the viewer has general knowledge about the world and how it works. Second, s/he has a set of beliefs and expectations based on experience with the same or similar environment, product or technology. Lastly, the viewer enters the situation with a goal and strategy for achieving that goal.
Viewer history with the product or environment strongly affects danger perception. The greater the experience with no negative outcome, the lower the level of perceived danger. This is the “cry wolf” or “familiarization” effect, where people quit paying attention to uninformative input....
We live in a social context, so other people affect individual notions of norms, standards and acceptable behavior. It is not surprising, that degree of viewer behavior may be affected by whether other people are complying with the warning.”
“The Psychology of Warnings1”
http://www.visualexpert.com/Resources/psychwarnings.html
Very informative. Thank you!
I really RESENT being cobbled with Mayan Calender wackos when my sources are so compelling. But you’re right. That’s the perception. Others cried wolf, so they assume I’m the same foolish shepherd boy.