title: The social psychology of public response to warnings of a nuclear power plant accident.
abstract: This article reviews the process of public response to warnings of an impending nuclear power plant emergency. Significant evidence exists to suggest that people engage in protective action in response to warnings based upon the substance and course through which emergency warning information is disseminated. The three basic components of a warning system are defined, and the elements of public response to warnings are summarized. Popular myths about public response to warnings are outlined and dispelled based upon current research verification. The conclusion provides an overview and synthesis of the warning response process.
authors.affiliation: Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center, Campus Box 483 University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0482, USA. dennis.mileti@colorado.edu
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mileti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peek
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D004189:Disaster Planning; D006801:Humans; D011593:Psychology, Social; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release / Q000523:psychology*