Human Risk - PSY00059H
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2026-27 |
Module aims
Human risk encompasses risks caused by humans and risks to humanity. Global catastrophic risks from climate change, nuclear war, engineered pathogens, and AI depend almost entirely on human thinking and behaviour. This basic insight puts psychology—the science of thinking and behaviour—at the nexus of extinction and flourishing. Navigating these risks involves more than mere number crunching. Decades of research in cognitive science has shown that understanding risk involves grappling with individual differences, context, and societal factors. In this module, we will examine these and other factors, achieving an up-to-date overview on the psychology of risk, and asking how a scientific approach to forecasting, luck, and error can help humanity survive the current century.
Module learning outcomes
- Summarise the development of rational approaches to risk
- Give examples of how everyday risk perception deviates from rational risk assessment in systematic and predictable ways
- Describe the role of risk at different levels of analysis—brain, person, group, society—and over different timescales
- Explore the impact of decisions taken now on the future of humanity.
Module content
- Origins of risk research
- Hazards and risk perception
- Development and individual differences
- Luck and games
- Frontiers of forecasting
- Disaster and risk mitigation
- Extinction risks
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 60.0 |
| Essay/coursework | 40.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 60.0 |
| Essay/coursework | 40.0 |
Module feedback
The marks on all assessed work will be provided on e-vision.
Indicative reading
None specified.