Fear Language in a Warning Is Beneficial to Risk Perception in Lower-Risk Situations

2021 ◽  
pp. 001872082110294
Author(s):  
Daphne E. Whitmer ◽  
Valerie K. Sims
Keyword(s):  
Lower Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Fear Appeals ◽  
Second Person ◽  
Decision Points ◽  
Risk Event ◽  
Medium Risk ◽  
Increasing Risk ◽  
Language Influence

Objective The goal was to examine the effectiveness of fear language in the protective action recommendation of an emergency warning, which instructs people how to prepare and stay safe. Background Past work is limited because it has focused on describing the severity of the weather crisis, not improving the recommendation. Likewise, other research has examined fear appeals that overemphasize death, which leads to poor risk perceptions. Method In Experiment 1, the presence of fear language and second-person personal pronouns (i.e., “you”) in a recommendation was manipulated. Experiment 2 examined how fear language and a hurricane changing in intensity influenced risk perceptions across three decision points. Results Experiment 1 suggested that fear language was more influential than a pronoun on risk perceptions. Experiment 2 suggested that fear language in a protective action recommendation was most impactful in the case of a hurricane decreasing in intensity. Conclusion Protective action recommendations with fear language influence risk perceptions and behaviors. The magnitude of this influence is dependent on how people have categorized the hurricane (i.e., low vs. high risk). Application These results demonstrate that fear appeals in hurricane warnings can be useful, especially in cases when a low to medium risk event is still extremely dangerous. Likewise, these results demonstrate a need for caution, as fear appeals are not a “one size-fits-all” approach to increasing risk perceptions and should be used thoughtfully. Recommendations of when to use fear appeals in protective action recommendations are provided based on the present data.

Social Comparisons for Following Health Recommendations and Their Relation to Worry and Intentions During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jason P. Rose ◽  
Keith A. Edmonds
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Methodological Choices ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

Abstract. Background: During uncertain threatening situations, people make social comparisons that influence self-evaluations, inform decisions, and guide behavior. In 2019, an emerging infectious disease (COVID-19) became a pandemic and resulted in unparalleled public health recommendations (e.g., social distancing, wear masks in public). Aims: The current research examined people’s beliefs about how their own compliance to recommendations compared to others and explored the unique associations between social comparisons, worry, risk perceptions, and intentions for health-protective action. Method: An adult sample of US residents ( N = 452) completed an online, cross-sectional survey about their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: First, participants reported better-than-average compliance beliefs. Second, comparative beliefs were positively (and uniquely) associated with intentions for future compliance-related behaviors and general risk-reduction behaviors (e.g., information seeking) – particularly for participants who viewed COVID-19 as threatening. Finally, the relation between comparative beliefs and intentions was indirect through worry (but not risk), though alternative models also achieved support. Limitations: Our findings are limited by our use of a cross-sectional design, methodological choices, and our lack of behavioral measures. Conclusions: Overall, results demonstrate that people are attentive to their comparative levels of compliance behaviors during an infectious disease pandemic. Results are discussed in terms of their theoretical implications and the relevance of social comparisons for self-protective action during a pandemic.

Modelling evacuation decision-making in the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 fire in Gatlinburg, TN

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 1120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica D. Kuligowski ◽  
Emily H. Walpole ◽  
Ruggiero Lovreglio ◽  
Sarah McCaffrey
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Decision Model ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Model Risk ◽  
Protective Action Decision Model ◽  
Online Sampling ◽  
Wildfire Evacuation

As wildfires occurring at the wildland–urban interface (WUI) continue to become more severe, there is an increasing need to understand human behaviour in these situations, and evacuation decision-making in particular. To contribute to this understanding, an online survey (using both mail and online sampling methods) was disseminated to households impacted by the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 fire in Tennessee. The survey instrument measured pre-event variables such as awareness of fire risks and previous experience with evacuations as well as the types of warnings and fire cues received during the event, with a focus on factors known to impact evacuation decisions and risk perception. Using linear and logistic regression analyses, it was found that fire cues and receiving warnings from a trusted source influenced risk perceptions leading up to an evacuation decision. In line with the Protective Action Decision Model, risk perception also highly influenced evacuation decisions, along with other variables, i.e. gender and prior preparation actions. Results from this work provide support for findings from previous wildfire evacuation research as well as produce some novel findings, along with several methodological recommendations, which will be further explored.

scholarly journals High level radioactive waste and communities' risk perceptions: a case study of an on-going voluntary siting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rawana Haymour
Keyword(s):  
Lower Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Nuclear Waste Management ◽  
Facility Siting ◽  
Nuclear Facility ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
High Level ◽  
Main Factor

This study examined an on-going case study of communities that have been involved in the Nuclear Waste Management Organization‟s nuclear facility siting process. Interviews were conducted to examine whether communities no longer participating had higher perceptions of risk relative to communities that are still participating. In addition, this study examined the influence of other factors on communities to stay in the process or stop participating. Moreover, this study evaluated whether the siting process is consistent with the siting principles of a cooperative model. Results showed that eliminated communities had slightly higher risk perceptions compared to communities that are still participating. On the other hand, opted out communities had lower risk perceptions. It also showed that perceived potential benefits are the main factor controlling the communities‟ decisions at this stage. In addition, the siting process is not perfectly consistent with, but similar to a collaborative planning model at this stage.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 Forecast Visualizations on Pandemic Risk Perceptions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lace Padilla ◽  
Helia Hosseinpour ◽  
Racquel Fygenson ◽  
Jennifer Howell ◽  
Rumi Chunara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Risk Estimates ◽  
Increasing Risk ◽  
Changes In Risk

Abstract People worldwide use SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) visualizations to make life and death decisions about pandemic risks. Understanding how COVID-19 visualizations influence risk perceptions to improve pandemic communication is crucial. To examine how COVID-19 visualizations influence risk perception, we conducted two experiments (N = 2,549) during the height of COVID-19 where we presented participants with 34 visualizations from the CDC of the same COVID-19 mortality data. We found that visualizing data using a cumulative scale consistently led to participants believing that they and others were at more risk than before viewing the visualizations. In contrast, visualizing the same data with a weekly incident scale led to variable changes in risk perceptions. Further, uncertainty forecast visualizations also affected risk perceptions, with visualizations showing six or more models increasing risk estimates more than the others tested. Differences between COVID-19 visualizations of the same data produce different risk perceptions, fundamentally changing viewers' interpretation of information.

scholarly journals Overcoming Ambiguity: Conflict Between Emergency Warning Messages and Socio-Environmental Cues

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s21-s21
Author(s):  
Paula Dootson ◽  
Dominique Greer ◽  
Sophie Miller ◽  
Vivienne Tippett
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Hazard Experience ◽  
Perceive Risk ◽  
The Right ◽  
Taking Action

Introduction:Emergency services are not the only source of information that the public uses when considering taking action during an event. There are also environmental cues, information from the media, or actions by peers that can influence perceptions and actions. When cues from different information sources are in conflict, it can cause uncertainty about the right protective action to take.Aim:Our research responds to concerns that conflicting cues exacerbate community non-compliance with emergency warnings.Methods:The sample consisted of 2,649 participants who completed one of 32 surveys.Results:The findings from this project confirmed emergency services agencies’ suspicions that conflicting cues can affect information processing and risk perceptions, and therefore prevent people from taking appropriate protective action. The results were reasonably consistent across fire and flood scenarios, suggesting the problem of conflicting cues is not hazard-specific. When presented with consistent cues, participants were more likely to evacuate, perceive risk about the event, share information with friends, family, and peers, find emergency warnings to be effective, and comprehend information. When faced with conflicting cues, participants were more likely to seek out additional information. It affected their information processing and self-efficacy. The results did not change for people of different ages, native language, country of birth, or post-hazard experience. This is contrary to most emergency literature research findings, which show that individual differences play a role in impacting propensity to take protective action. However, there does appear to be a significant gender effect. These results require further exploration.Discussion:These findings may be used to assist emergency services agencies to tailor community warnings during time-critical situations, and develop ways to mitigate ambiguity caused by conflicting cues to encourage protective action in order to save lives and properties.

scholarly journals Fear and citizen coordination against dictatorship

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Aldama ◽  
Mateo Vásquez-Cortés ◽  
Lauren Elyssa Young
Keyword(s):  
Risk Aversion ◽  
Fear Appeals ◽  
Political Decision ◽  
Global Game ◽  
Autocratic Regime ◽  
Increasing Risk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Political Decision Making ◽  
Increase In Risk ◽  
Do So

Despite numerous studies showing that emotions influence political decision making, there is scant literature giving a formal treatment to this phenomenon. This paper formalizes insights about how fear influences participation in risky collective action such as citizen revolt against an autocratic regime. To do so we build a global game and analyze the effects that fear may have on participation through increasing pessimism about the regime’s strength, increasing pessimism about the participation of others in the revolution, and increasing risk aversion. The impact of the first two effects of fear is a clear reduction in the probability that people will mobilize. However, an increase in risk aversion may in some circumstances increase the probability with which citizens will mobilize. These results may help explain the unpredictable reactions of citizens to fear appeals, including the threat of repressive violence.

scholarly journals Risk Perception, Risk Communication, and Mitigation Actions of Flash Floods: Results from a Survey in Three Types of Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12389
Author(s):  
Ming Zhong ◽  
Lu Xiao ◽  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Tao Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Community Resilience ◽  
Flash Floods ◽  
Flood Hazards ◽  
Flood Warnings

In order to improve the decision-making of risk management and enhance community resilience to flash floods, the perception of risks, communication of warnings, and mitigation actions concerning flash floods were investigated in this study. The survey involves 280 participants from three types of communities in flash flood-prone areas. Results show that: (i) About 55.4% of community participants misperceived or underestimated the risk of flash floods, especially in the suburban communities, and people had misconceptions about the safety of crossing fast-flowing water, even though most of them had experienced flash flood hazards. (ii) In total, 67.9% of participants indicated that they had at some point received a flash flood warning. The perception of accuracy was related to trust in flash flood warnings, but they were different constructs for some individuals. Moreover, residents in the rural community and suburban community reported a closer social communication with neighbors, which would greatly influence inhabitants’ attitudes and behaviors towards the flash flood warnings and mitigation actions. (iii) Most of the participants indicated they would take some protective action when they received a warning. Risk perceptions and risk communications influence the mitigation actions in the community. Significant variables in the rural community and non-rural community were explored, and some important suggestions are highlighted. These findings suggest that risk perception and risk communication in neighborhoods help people to decide what action to take in the given scenarios, contribute to enhancing the community resilience, and contribute to coping with future flash floods in a more specific and effective way.

scholarly journals Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Barriers to Physical Activity

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Lisa Aditama ◽  
Dewi Rahmawati ◽  
Nani Parfati ◽  
Astrid Pratidina
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
Stage Of Change ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Medium Risk ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity is increasing and tends to be higher in adult population groups who are also more educated and employed as a civil/military/police/oficers. This study aims to analyze cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, perceptions about physical activity and barriers experienced to perform physical activity, also stage of change to physical activity.METHODS: The study design was an observational study, use qualitative methods with in-depth interviews and quantitative analysis CVD risk also stage of change to physical activity questionnaire.RESULTS: Framingham 10-years CVD risk of obese men in University of Surabaya was 11.97% (1.70 to 29.90) based on lipid profile and 13.90% (2.30 to 30.00) based on body mass index. Perception of obese men in University of Surabaya regarding physical activity had findings several barriers that can be grouped into time constraint, facility constraint, low motivation, and knowledge about physical activities.CONCLUSION: In this study we found that 10-years CVD risk of obese men in University of Surabaya can be categorized as medium risk. There are several barriers regarding life style modification for physical activity and exercise, whereas the subjects included in this study are quite ready to start the program, but improvement for the readiness before starting the program will still be needed.KEYWORDS: CVD risk, obese men, physical activity

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