When Earthquake Damage is Seen as Preventable: Attributions, Locus of Control and Attitudes to Risk

Abstract

Divers travaux ont montrC que le locus of control et les attitudes face au risque dkterminaient les conduites devant les dangers de la nature. Deux ttudes ont tent6 de determiner lequel de ces deux facteurs Ctait le meilleur pridicteur des jugements et de la prkparation concernant les tremblements de terre. Ces notions ont 6t6 relikes h des modkles de l'attribution des digits causCs par les tremblements de terre, par l'examen de la spCcificitC des destructions sur les attributions et la complexit6 des explications. Dans les deux etudes, la premikre sur des Ctudiants, la seconde sur du tout-venant, les personnes fuyant le risque prksentaient une plus grande probabilite de s'&tre mieux preparkes aux tremblements de terre et pensaient que ce genre de destruction pouvait &tre plus facilement CvitC que la degradation gCnCrale de l'environnement. Chez les Ctudiants, la faible prise de risque Ctait reliCe h l'impression qu'un tremblement de terre Ctait vraisemblable. Les Ctudiants avec un locus of control plut6t interne prksentaient une plus forte probabiliti d'estimer que les dCgits propres aux tremblements de terre pouvaient Ctre tvitCs, tandis que les non-Ctudiants avec Cgalement un locus of control plutat interne presentaient une plus forte probabilitC de fournir des explications complexes des destructions dues aux tremblements de terre. Ces rCsultats peuvent &tre utilists pour amCliorer la prtparation aux tremblements de terre et autre alCas.Previous studies have demonstrated that locus of control and risk attitudes influence preparation for natural hazards. Two studies examined which of these two factors is the stronger predictor of earthquake judgements and preparation. These concepts were linked to attribution models of earthquake damage, by examining the effect of the distinctiveness of damage on Requests for reprints should be sent to John McClure, 240McCLURE, WALKEY, ALLEN attributions, and explanatory complexity. In both studies, the first with students and the second with non-student members of the public, low risktakers were more likely to have made more preparations for earthquakes, and distinctive damage was judged more preventable than global damage. With students, low risk-taking also predicted judgements that an earthquake was probable. Students with a more internal locus of control were more likely to judge that distinctive earthquake damage was preventable, whereas nonstudents with a more internal locus of control were more likely to give complex explanations of earthquake damage. These findings have several implications for enhancing preparedness for earthquakes and other hazards.

The social psychology of seismic hazard adjustment: re-evaluating the international literature

“…Psychologically, fatalism entails the perception that there is little or nothing one can do to avoid or protect oneself from risk, and that the locus of control over life events is external to oneself (McClure et al, 1999). Specifically, earthquake fatalism implies that the causes of damage are attributed to the force of the earthquake alone, rather than to building design or other controllable factors (McClure et al, 2001).…”

“…One motivating force is knowledge that leads to the belief that one can control the outcome of the earthquake, that is, self-efficacy. McClure and colleagues (Cowan et al 2002;McClure et al, 1999McClure et al, , 2001McClure et al, , 2007a have shown that certain characteristics of information about earthquake damage, as presented via mass media reports for example, can shape attitudes towards preventability. Specifically, reports that provide accurate, rate-based information about why one type of building withstood ground-shaking whereas another type collapsed enables people to understand that building design is a major cause of losses, allowing them to infer more easily that losses are controllable.…”

Preparedness actions towards seismic risk mitigation for the general public in Martinique, French Lesser Antilles: a mid-term appraisal

“…According to Lamontagne and La Rochelle (2000), seismologists should follow psychological courses to help and support the public's emotional reactions before or after an earthquake. Scientists should also participate in communication plans which include concrete facts about earthquakes, to anticipate the event and its associated anxiety (Lamontagne, 1992;McClure et al, 1999). Science can at least promote up-to-date scientific ideas instead of fakes and rumours disseminated by local beliefs or the internet.…”

Preparedness for natural disasters caused by earthquakes: Literature review

“…Рустамли и Каранци (Rüstemli, Karanci, 1999) су утврдили да људи са вишим нивоима образовања имају мање страха, више личне контроле и чешће користе социјалну помоћ. Док, с друге стране, постоје студије у којима се наглашава да не постоји директна веза између поседовања информација о опасностима и припремних мера (Ballantyne, 2000;McClure et al, 1999;Mileti, Fitzpatrick, 1992). Танака је спровео квантитативно истраживање у коме је анкетирао становнике одабраних градова у Јапану и Калифорнији.…”