Risk perception and warning fatigue - the Australian bushfires
Why is is that some people react appropriately to warnings, and yet others not only ignore, but often seem to deliberately act against advice?
This PhD project is exploring whether warning fatigue is a reality for those individuals and communities threatened by bushfires, and what, if any, are the consequences.
Psychological preparedness is an important aspect of people's bushfire preparedness. Brenda Mackie's research will examine positive aspects of psychological preparedness (such as factors promoting people's capacity to respond) and negative aspects (such as how anxiety and fear influence vulnerability).
Conservation of Resources Theory, Social Amplification of Risk Theory and the concept of warning fatigue will provide the theoretical foundation for the project.
Psychological processes influence the quality of planning for bushfires and people's capacity for action. The project will identify psychological preparedness strategies that can be incorporated into the risk communication programs used by agencies to facilitate physical readiness.
