Mainland Chinese People's Risk Perceptions and Impressions of Japan in the Great East Japan Earthquake

摘要

This study examined how Mainland Chinese media and characteristics of information influenced the audiences' perceptions towards the Great East Japan Earthquake and their impressions of Japan.In addition,in order to investigate the predicted effects of risk perception on response proposed by early studies,effects of Mainland Chinese people's risk perceptions on their impressions of Japan have also been examined.An online survey (n=452) was conducted in Mainland China about three months after the occurrence of the disasters.It was found that newspapers and characteristics of information from it have increased the levels of people's risk perceptions and the levels of people's both positive and negative impressions of Japan.It was also found that television as well as the Internet and characteristics of information from them have increased only the levels of people's perceived likelihood of the disasters and only the levels of people's positive impressions of Japan.At the same time,the results provide empirical support to the findings of existing studies that cognitive responses can also be determined by the intuitive judgments of risk.