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Vested interest and environmental risk communication: improving willingness to cope with impending disasters
Author(s) -
De Dominicis Stefano,
Crano William D.,
Ganucci Cancellieri Uberta,
Mosco Benedetta,
Bonnes Mirilia,
Hohman Zachary,
Bonaiuto Marino
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/jasp.12229
Subject(s) - risk perception , psychology , preparedness , social psychology , consistency (knowledge bases) , perception , relevance (law) , risk communication , risk analysis (engineering) , political science , business , geometry , mathematics , neuroscience , law
Abstract Vested interest theory ( VIT ), first investigated on environmental risk, suggests that the hedonic relevance of an attitude object moderates relations between attitudes, intentions, and responses to danger. Emphasizing vested interest may maximize impacts of risk communications. Study 1 ( N = 215) assessed differences between inhabitants of two flood‐risk areas in Italy on past experience, risk perceptions, concerns, attitudes, and behavioral intentions. Objectively, higher risk areas' residents reported more experience, and greater perceived risk and concern, while no preparedness differences were found (both at “between cities” and “within city” levels). Study 2 ( N = 444) looked at the moderating role of VIT ‐based risk communication messages on the relationship between vested interest and behavioral intentions. Components of vested interest moderate attitude–intention consistency, suggesting a new method of developing effective risk announcements.