7 Rhetorical Sensitivity and Crisis and Risk Communication: Extension of a Theory
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Jeanne M. Persuit
Abstract
This chapter extends the theory of rhetorical sensitivity (Hart and Burks 1972) to crisis and risk communication to provide a framework that attends to audience, culture, and situation. Rhetorical sensitivity theory, initially conceived by Hart and Burks as an interpersonal communication theory, outlines five characteristics of the rhetorically sensitive: accepting role-taking in communication interactions, eschewing consistency for the sake of consistency, being continuously willing to adapt, managing self-disclosure and candidness to effectively communicate a message, and understanding that the same idea can be communicated in myriad ways (1972). When extended from interpersonal relationships to communication from organizations to stakeholders and communities, rhetorical sensitivity offers a fruitful direction for crisis and risk communication research and practice.
Abstract
This chapter extends the theory of rhetorical sensitivity (Hart and Burks 1972) to crisis and risk communication to provide a framework that attends to audience, culture, and situation. Rhetorical sensitivity theory, initially conceived by Hart and Burks as an interpersonal communication theory, outlines five characteristics of the rhetorically sensitive: accepting role-taking in communication interactions, eschewing consistency for the sake of consistency, being continuously willing to adapt, managing self-disclosure and candidness to effectively communicate a message, and understanding that the same idea can be communicated in myriad ways (1972). When extended from interpersonal relationships to communication from organizations to stakeholders and communities, rhetorical sensitivity offers a fruitful direction for crisis and risk communication research and practice.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series V
- Contents VII
- 1 Introduction: Unique Challenges and Opportunities in Communicating Risk and Safety 1
-
Section 1: Fundamental Principles and Perspectives When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 2 Communicating Safety and Risk: Advancement of a Field in Constant Uncertainty 13
- 3 Communicating with Numbers: Challenges and Potential Solutions 33
- 4 Translating Data into Intelligible Risk and Safety Guidelines 57
- 5 Disaster Fatigue, Communication, and Resilience: Insights from Natural Hazards, Human-Caused Disasters, and Public Health Crises 77
- 6 The COVID-19 Pandemic as Exemplar of the Chaos of Mega-Crises 97
-
Section 2: Rhetorical Considerations When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 7 Rhetorical Sensitivity and Crisis and Risk Communication: Extension of a Theory 111
- 8 Emotions in Risk and Crisis Communication: An Individual and Networked Perspective 123
- 9 Narratives in Collision: Crisis and Pragmatic Dialogic Learning 143
- 10 Applying Dialogic Theory to Risk and Problem Solving 159
- 11 Embracing Dialogue While Cultivating Convergence: Organizational Challenges in Responsibly Communicating Risk 179
- 12 The Function of Stasis in Risk and Safety Controversies 197
-
Section 3: Ethical Dilemmas When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 13 Risk Communication: A Communication Ethics Perspective 219
- 14 The Ethic of First and Second Things in Communicating Risk and Safety 237
- 15 Ethical Obligations in Communicating Risk and Safety: Standards of Dialogue, Uncertainty, Change, and Truthfulness 255
-
Section 4: Cultural Imperatives When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 16 Culture-centered Approach to Risk Communication 269
- 17 “All Knowledge Is Local”: The PEN-3 Model as a Guide to Overcoming Western/ European Bias in Risk Communication about Global Health Concerns in East Africa 285
- 18 Communities of Practice Approach to Safety Communication 301
-
Section 5: Instructional Perspectives and Compliance-Gaining When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 19 Instruction as Self-Protection 321
- 20 Mobile Instructional Communication for Public Safety and Community Resilience 339
- 21 From Risks to Crisis Society: The Drivers of the Public Health Communication Paradigm Shift 359
- 22 Earthquake Risk Communication of Individual Protective Actions for Big Earthquakes: A Situational Choreography Model Based on Social Communication Engineering 379
-
Section 6: Media and Technological Considerations When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 23 Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model 413
- 24 Understanding Contemporary Infodemics through the Risk Amplification through Media Spread (RAMS) Model 453
- 25 Spotting Risks: How to Integrate Social Media Listening to a Framework of Assessing Risks 473
- 26 Emergent Organizations and Post-Disaster Risk: Volunteerism in the Digital Age 493
- 27 Communicating and Perceiving Risks of Artificial Intelligence as an Emerging Technology 503
-
Section 7: Future Considerations: Untangling Issues of (Mis)Trust When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 28 The Role of Trust and Distrust in Risk and Safety Communication 529
- 29 It’s Complicated . . . : Exploring Vaccination Attitudes and the Vaccination Infodemic in the UK throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic 551
- 30 Communicating to Mitigate Behavioral Cyber Risks: The Case of Employee Vulnerability 585
- 31 Building or Unbuilding Trust? A Reflection on Governments, News Media, and Businesses’ Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic 607
- Contributors 627
- Index 637
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series V
- Contents VII
- 1 Introduction: Unique Challenges and Opportunities in Communicating Risk and Safety 1
-
Section 1: Fundamental Principles and Perspectives When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 2 Communicating Safety and Risk: Advancement of a Field in Constant Uncertainty 13
- 3 Communicating with Numbers: Challenges and Potential Solutions 33
- 4 Translating Data into Intelligible Risk and Safety Guidelines 57
- 5 Disaster Fatigue, Communication, and Resilience: Insights from Natural Hazards, Human-Caused Disasters, and Public Health Crises 77
- 6 The COVID-19 Pandemic as Exemplar of the Chaos of Mega-Crises 97
-
Section 2: Rhetorical Considerations When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 7 Rhetorical Sensitivity and Crisis and Risk Communication: Extension of a Theory 111
- 8 Emotions in Risk and Crisis Communication: An Individual and Networked Perspective 123
- 9 Narratives in Collision: Crisis and Pragmatic Dialogic Learning 143
- 10 Applying Dialogic Theory to Risk and Problem Solving 159
- 11 Embracing Dialogue While Cultivating Convergence: Organizational Challenges in Responsibly Communicating Risk 179
- 12 The Function of Stasis in Risk and Safety Controversies 197
-
Section 3: Ethical Dilemmas When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 13 Risk Communication: A Communication Ethics Perspective 219
- 14 The Ethic of First and Second Things in Communicating Risk and Safety 237
- 15 Ethical Obligations in Communicating Risk and Safety: Standards of Dialogue, Uncertainty, Change, and Truthfulness 255
-
Section 4: Cultural Imperatives When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 16 Culture-centered Approach to Risk Communication 269
- 17 “All Knowledge Is Local”: The PEN-3 Model as a Guide to Overcoming Western/ European Bias in Risk Communication about Global Health Concerns in East Africa 285
- 18 Communities of Practice Approach to Safety Communication 301
-
Section 5: Instructional Perspectives and Compliance-Gaining When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 19 Instruction as Self-Protection 321
- 20 Mobile Instructional Communication for Public Safety and Community Resilience 339
- 21 From Risks to Crisis Society: The Drivers of the Public Health Communication Paradigm Shift 359
- 22 Earthquake Risk Communication of Individual Protective Actions for Big Earthquakes: A Situational Choreography Model Based on Social Communication Engineering 379
-
Section 6: Media and Technological Considerations When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 23 Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model 413
- 24 Understanding Contemporary Infodemics through the Risk Amplification through Media Spread (RAMS) Model 453
- 25 Spotting Risks: How to Integrate Social Media Listening to a Framework of Assessing Risks 473
- 26 Emergent Organizations and Post-Disaster Risk: Volunteerism in the Digital Age 493
- 27 Communicating and Perceiving Risks of Artificial Intelligence as an Emerging Technology 503
-
Section 7: Future Considerations: Untangling Issues of (Mis)Trust When Communicating Risk and Safety
- 28 The Role of Trust and Distrust in Risk and Safety Communication 529
- 29 It’s Complicated . . . : Exploring Vaccination Attitudes and the Vaccination Infodemic in the UK throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic 551
- 30 Communicating to Mitigate Behavioral Cyber Risks: The Case of Employee Vulnerability 585
- 31 Building or Unbuilding Trust? A Reflection on Governments, News Media, and Businesses’ Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic 607
- Contributors 627
- Index 637