People who live in wildfire-prone communities tend to form their own hazard-related expectations, which may influence their willingness to prepare for a fire. Past research has already identified two important expectancy-based factors associated with people's intentions to prepare for a natural hazard: Perceived risk (i.e., perceived threat likelihood and severity) and perceived protection responsibility. We expanded this research by differentiating the influence of these factors on different types of wildfire preparedness (e.g., preparations for evacuation vs. for defending the house) and measured actual rather than intended preparedness. In addition, we tested the relation between preparedness and two additional threat-related expectations: the expectation that one can rely on an official warning and the expectation of encountering obstacles (e.g., the loss of utilities) during a fire. A survey completed by 1,003 residents of wildfire-prone areas in Perth, Australia, revealed that perceived risk (especially risk severity) and perceived protection responsibility were both positively associated with all types of preparedness, but the latter did not significantly predict preparedness after controlling for other predictors and demographics. Also, the two new expectancy-based factors were significantly associated with all types of preparedness, and remained significant predictors of some types of preparedness after controlling for other predictors and demographics: the expectation of being able to rely on an official fire warning and expecting to lose electricity both still predicted less preparedness around house resilience, and expecting to lose water still predicted increased planning preparedness. We discuss public policy implications that follow from this research.
Cyberbullying is a pervasive phenomenon that leads to a variety of damaging psychological consequences for its victims. Myriad theoretical frameworks, including the Barlett Gentile Cyberbullying Model, have emphasized the role of online anonymity perceptions in predicting cyberbullying behavior.In the present study, we implemented a theory-based video intervention program designed to challenge college students' anonymity perceptions to reduce subsequent cyberbullying. Then, we examined their cyberbullying behavior and attitudes longitudinally at points before the intervention (Wave 1), immediately after it (Wave 2), and 2 months later (Wave 3). The results suggest that our intervention was successful, as there was a significant reduction in anonymity perceptions and toxic online disinhibition from Wave 1 to Wave 2 in the intervention group. Also consistent with our theoretical framework, we found that anonymity perceptions at Wave 2 significantly mediated the relationship between intervention group and Wave 3 cyberbullying perpetration. Further research is needed to study this approach in the context of younger children.
Public Policy Relevance StatementThe objective of the current study is to design a new anonymity-focused intervention aimed at reducing cyberbullying perpetration. Results showed that those in our intervention had declines in their anonymity perceptions immediately after the intervention training, which led to a decrease in cyberbullying perpetration afterward. Overall, our intervention was successful at reducing anonymity, which has positive impacts on the reduction of cyberbullying perpetration.
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