The Effect of Risk Perception and Self-Reference Information to Residents’ Evacuation Intention

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of high risk perception and information presentation consistent with self-schema on the intention to evacuate in weather-related disasters. In Experiment 1, mothers of young children were assigned to one of the following conditions: risk (high, low)×message (control, evacuate with the child, protect the child’s life). The results showed they had enhanced evacuation intentions under the high-risk conditions. We also found that information consistent with their self-schema (evacuate with the child condition) strengthened evacuation intentions. In Experiment 2, females and males living with a person in need of assistance during a disaster were assigned to one of the following conditions: risk (high, low)×message (control, evacuate with those in need, protect the lives of those in need). People living with a person in need of assistance during a disaster had enhanced evacuation intentions under high-risk conditions. Males showed that information consistent with their own schema (evacuate with those in need condition) strengthened their evacuation intentions. On the other hand, females did not change their evacuation intentions by changing the way the information was presented.