Cognitive factors related to prevention behaviour towards dam-break induced floods

Abstract

According to the Cognitive Adaptation Theory (S. E. Taylor, 1983, 1989), people under threat develop cognitive illusions in order to preserve mental health. A. Bandura's Theory of Self-Efficacy (1977, 1989) proposes that the belief of ability to perform a specific behavior 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 hypotheses were tested: (1) Ss 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) Ss who believe in their capacities to perform the preventive behavior and those who believe in the efficacy of that preventive behavior will more probably implement that behavior. 91 residents of a small Portuguese town located 9 miles after 2 dams were interviewed. Results support the hypotheses, and some implications are drawn to a preventive campaign in that area.