IntroductionOver the years, theorists have attempted to explain how and why people perceive risk differently and how risk can be managed in organizations (Sjoberg, 1979). Risk perception can be defined as “the judgments people make when asked to evaluate dangerous activities and technologies” (Slovic, 1987). Marris et al (1998) examined the risk perceptions of Norwich residents using two incisive approaches:; the psychometric paradigm and cultural theory. This report aims to critically analyze the comparison between the two theories covered in the article and the conclusions drawn from them. The psychometric paradigm The psychometric paradigm, proposed by cognitive psychologists, describes the perception of risk based on experts and laypeople, with the qualitative characteristics of risk as a basis (Schmidt, 2004). Fischhoff et al. (1978) classified the qualitative characteristics of risk into two main components: the feared risk factor and the unknown risk factor. Nine qualitative characteristics of risk were used to examine perceptions of risk in this article, namely fear, catastrophic potential, inadvertence, lack of knowledge of scientists, lack of knowledge of exposed people, harm to future generations, delayed effects, injustice and severity. The theory was criticized by the authors cited in the article for not taking into account the social and cultural aspects of risk. on the cultural biases developed on the typology of grid groups (Thomas et al, 1990). This view has also been supported by Sigve et al (2004). The four cultural biases identified in the article are in the middle of the article......y, Risk Decision and Policy. Sjoberg, L. (2003), Distal factors in risk perception. Risk Research 6, pp. 187-210. Tansey, J and O'Riordan, T. (1999), Cultural Risk and Theory; a review. Available at http://paul-hadrien.info/backup/LSE/IS%20490/utile/cultural%20theory%20and%20risk%20review.pdf Google (accessed November 18, 2013) Thomas et al (1990), Cultural Theory . Colorado: West View Press. Thomas et al (1999), Cultural theory as political science. Available at http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=FiPQZfl1gvYC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=thompson+fifth+hermit&ots=-fzAwaFbYX&sig=aH29fcldxypnbeE0fjIOTOsA_Po#v=onepage&q=thompson%20fifth%20hermit&f =fal se (Accessed 20 November 2013) Walker et al (1998), Public perception of risks associated with major accident risks. Wildavsky, A. and Dake, K., (1990), Theories of risk perception: Who fears what and why? PP. 41-60.