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Risk communication and resource communication are two basic approaches to motivate health behavior change. Risk information, as provided in the media, is more complex than it appears. A ratio or percentage is usually based on a selected time window, a specific population, exposure rates, etc. that are hard to communicate and even harder to understand. Single exposure and cumulative exposure over various time periods result in different risk estimates. Joint exposure to a number of risks might involve synergistic effects that an individual cannot grasp. Thus, misjudging given risk information is normal, whereas the accurate understanding of risks is the exception. Moreover, even when a risk for a certain population or reference group is well understood, this does not imply that the individual would believe him or herself to be personally at risk. Defensive optimism moves people away from reality and inhibits …