Frame Reflection: Gain/Loss Frames

Individual reactions to growth issues vary, depending upon whether we focus upon potential gains or losses. Do we see growth as creating opportunities that we would like to pursue, or do we see it as threatening losses that we feel we must try to avoid? This short section of the questionnaire asks you to rank the importance of gain and loss issues. We also encourage people who tend to focus on the downside of growth to spend some time thinking about the upside. Conversely, we encourage people who tend to focus on the promise of growth to consider ways of limiting its negative effects.

Please indicate your level of agreement with the following:

Pursuing Gains – Growth and the resources which accompany it offer great opportunities for personal and community advancement. My primary focus is upon finding ways to take advantage of these opportunities.

Avoiding Losses – My primary focus is upon defense against the environmental and quality-of-life threats associated with growth.