How Real Is Too Real? User-Testing the Effects of Realism as a Risk Communication Strategy in Sea Level Rise Visualizations

In visual risk communication, there has been a push toward using realism to show potential effects of sea level rise on coastal communities, often with the assumption that higher degrees of realism are more effective. We challenge this assumption by sharing the results of a user-based study exploring reactions to simulated images of flooded landmarks. The findings identify nuanced rhetorical and emotional responses, encouraging technical communicators to contribute to risk scholarship in psychology and cartography.在视觉风险传播领域，主流研究倾向于借助写实化手法展现海平面上升对沿海社区的潜在影响，并普遍假定：写实程度越高，传播效果越佳。本研究通过分享一项基于用户的调研结果——该调研聚焦于受众对被淹没地标模拟图像的反应——对这一预设提出了质疑。研究结果揭示了兼具修辞与情感维度的细腻反应，同时呼吁技术传播者为心理学与制图学领域的风险学术研究贡献力量。