Pragmatic and (or) Constitutive? On the Foundations of Contemporary Risk Communication Research

A diffuse and interdisciplinary field, risk communication research, is founded on how we understand the process and purpose of communication more generally. To that end, this article outlines two fundamental functions of risk communication: (1) a pragmatic function, in which senders direct messages at audiences (and vice versa), with various intended (and sometimes unintended) effects; and (2) a constitutive function, in which messages re(create) what we mean by risk in a given social context, including how we can, and/or should relate to it. Although representing distinct epistemological and theoretical social scientific traditions, these functions necessarily coexist in a broader understanding of risk communication, including its so-called effectiveness. The article concludes by considering how we might enact this fuller understanding of risk communication's dual functions through engagement in collaborative, sustainability science-oriented research.

Automated summary

Risk communication research is a diffuse and interdisciplinary field that is founded on an understanding of communication processes and purposes. This article outlines two fundamental functions of risk communication: pragmatic function and constitutive function. While representing different epistemological and theoretical traditions, these functions coexist in a broader understanding of risk communication, including its effectiveness.