The simultaneous study of physiological stress and behavioural reactions in individuals evacuating during a disaster situation is rarely conducted. Virtual reality (VR) offers an ecological way to study this phenomenon.
Objectives
We investigated stress and behavioural responses, as well as the influence of others behaviour, in individuals exposed to a tsunamitype natural disaster simulated in VR.
Methods
Eighty-eight participants (43 women, 45 men, mean age: 26.8, SD = 9.4) took part in the experiment. Three experimental conditions were defined to study emotional contagion: being alone on the beach; being in the presence of calm virtual agents; or being in the presence of “panicked” ones (random assignment). The sense of presence in the virtual environment was assessed using validated scale to evaluate the effectiveness of the VR system. Emotional/Stress response were measured using physiological indicators (heart rate, electrodermal conductance) collected repeatedly over throughout the scenario. Escape behaviour was assessed by measuring movement speed in the virtual environment.
Results
The mean presence score was 3.32 out of 6 (SD = 0.90). Random effects mixed models for longitudinal data showed an increase in movement speed as soon as the wave appeared, followed by an increase in stress when the alarm was triggered (electrodermal conductance and heart rate), with no significant differences between conditions with or without virtual agents.
Conclusion
The results suggest a rational, moderate reaction to danger. Combined with the absence of emotional panic contagion, these findings challenge the widespread media portrayal of disaster victims as reacting with irrational panic.
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