Attitudes to nuclear energy: beliefs, values and false consensus

Surveyed 600 persons (mean age 42.6 yrs) in 4 communities in The Netherlands within 30 miles of a nuclear power plant regarding the use of nuclear energy (NE). Results show a strong relationship between Ss' attitudes toward NE and their perceptions of its possible consequences. Ss for and against NE showed marked differences in the importance attached to the possible consequences and their endorsement of the salience of more general social issues. Results support the view that individuals perceive a false consensus with respect to the relative prevalence of similar attitudes among other people. Ss' perceptions of others with similar or opposing attitudes toward the issue of NE showed marked differences in evaluation, especially for the extreme attitude groups.