Abstract

SILVA, Sílvia  and  LIMA, Maria Luísa. Cogntive Factors Related to Preventive Behaviour Towards Dam-Break Induced Floods. Psicologia [online]. 1998, vol.12, n.1, pp.29-39. ISSN 0874-2049.  https://doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v12i1.571.

According to the Cognitive Adaptation Theory (Taylor, 1983, 1989), people under threat develop cognitive illusions in order to preserve mental health. Bandura's Theory of Self-Efficacy (1977,1989) proposes that the belief of ability to perform a specific behaviour increases the probability of performing it. This study was conceived in order to understand the use of those cognitive strategies on the prevention of dam-break induced floods. Two main hypothesis were tested: (1) subjects living in a higher risk area will present an under-estimation of the flood threat and positive illusions, as compared to those living in safer areas; and (2) subjects who believe in their capacities to perform the preventive behaviour and those who believe in the efficacy of that preventive behaviour will more probably implement that behaviour. 91 residents of a small Portuguese town located 9 miles after two dams (Silves) were interviewed. Results support our hypotheses, and some implications are drawn to a preventive campaign in that area.

Keywords : percepção de riscos; factores cognitivos; comportamentos de prevenção.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )