The subject of risk has been much in the news lately in regards to health, vaccinations, and investment. Howard Gardner recently received an inquiry from Chile wondering why during a worldwide pandemic people would disregard health risks, suggesting they lack “risk intelligence.” He wrote:

I have observed many people with very different profiles, even very capable or intelligent (according to the different types) people, who act negligently with respect to the COVID-19 virus and ignore the most basic recommendations to stay safe, even among those who work in healthcare.
When researching about this, in English and Spanish, I found that the term risk intelligence is used in companies or organizations, or about people, but with respect to investments. I have not found anything about it regarding people and the vital risks they may be faced with.
How does the theory of the multiple intelligences approach life-risk management? Considering that it has a literal life or death impact on the subject himself, can we be dealing with a new type of intelligence: The Risk Intelligence?

Howard Gardner responds:

Thanks for your question. Very briefly, risk management involves both intelligence(s) and motivation. An understanding of the risk entails logical-mathematical intelligence. But whether you decide to act on the basis of that computation, is an issue of personality and motivation.

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