I have two anecdotal observations that have impacted my understanding of the general populations interpretation of danger.
Lesson 1: Many people don’t recognize danger when it hits them in the face. I was attending a education conference with about 30 CPA’s. We were instructed to evacuate because there was an armed bank robbery in process ac cross the street from our classroom. When everyone exited the building everyone but me went to the front of the building to see what was happening. For some reason they didn’t understand that bullets would be able to travel the distance.
Lesson 2: About 1 month after 9-11 I checked prices of flights and cruises. They were so low it cost less to travel than to stay home. Everyone was terrified of another hijack. When actually the airports had more national guards than passengers and everyone was watching everyone else. It was probably never safer to fly.
In mass, people both exaggerate danger and underestimate it in extremes.
Have noticed people do that. Very interesting...
Another point. When evacuating a building, especially if it a bomb threat, DO NOT go to the designated rally point. There could be a secondary IED to take out evacuees or first responders.