Introduction Over the years, theorists have attempted to articulate 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 that people make when asked to evaluate dangerous activities and technologies” (Slovic, 1987). Marris et al (1998) examined people's risk perceptions in Norwich using two sharp 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. The psychometric paradigm The psychometric paradigm, proposed by cognitive psychologists, describes the perception of risk based on experts and non-experts, based on the qualitative characteristics of the risk (Schmidt, 2004). Fischhoff et al. (1978) classified the qualitative characteristics of risk into two main components: the terrible risk factor and the unknown risk factor. Nine qualitative risk characteristics were used to examine risk perception in this article, namely terror, catastrophic potential, unintentionality, lack of knowledge for scientists, lack of knowledge for exposed people, harm to future generations, effects retarded, injustice and severity. The theory was criticized by the authors cited in the document for not considering the social and cultural aspects of risk. Cultural theory The cultural theory proposed by anthropologists and sociologists states that people's social relationships determine how they perceive risk and is based on cultural prejudices developed on the grid group typology (Thomas et al, 1990). This view was also supported by Sigve et al (2004). The four cultural biases identified in the article are…… half of the paper……y, Risk Decisions and Policies. 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 via http://paul-hadrien.info/backup/LSE/IS%20490/aiuto/cultural%20theory%20and%20risk%20review.pdf google (accessed 18 November 2013) Thomas et al (1990), Theory cultural. Colorado: West view Press.Thomas et al (1999), Cultural theory as political science. Available via http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=FiPQZfl1gvYC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=thompson+fifth+herm it&ots=-fzAwaFbYX&sig=aH29fcldxypnbeE0fjIOTOsA_Po#v=onepage&q=thompson%20fifth%20hermit &f= false (Accessed 20 11 2013) Walker et al (1998) Public perception of risks associated with major accident hazards. Wildavsky, A. and Dake, K., (1990), Theories of risk perception: who fears what and why? pp. 41-60.