Abstract:  Cultural cognition theory aims to study risk perception differences related to culture factors at individual level. With this theoretical perspective, individual cultural worldview can be categorized into a two-dimensional matrix reflecting ‘group’ and ‘grid’. The ‘group’ dimension measures an individual preference for the social structures that encourage social bonds and cooperation versus those that encourage individual differences and competition. The ‘grid’ dimension reflects preferences for the structures that ensure role-based social stratification versus those that encourage equal opportunity. Along with this theoretical framework, cultural cognition scales has been developed to measure individual exact location in this two-dimensional matrix. Five mechanisms, which are identity protective cognition, biased assimilation, group polarization, cultural availability, cultural credibility and cultural identity affirmation, have been verified as supports to cultural cognition theory. Besides, in light of the affect heuristic theory, researchers also introduced cultural conflict meme as a mediating variable to develop the concrete model of cultural cognition theory. Further research will focus on the cross-cultural validation and indigenization of cultural cognitive scales, and try to explore effective public risk management strategies, based on the empirical research on specific risk factors.

Key words: risk perception, grip-group theory, cultural worldview, risk culture theory, cultural cognition theory