Environment and Behavior

Based on the findings and hypotheses of natural hazard research, a survey of earthquake hazard perception and the adoption of adjustments was carried out among 302 residents of 3 seismic risk zones of the west coast of North America. The study provided 3 lines of evidence for the concept of bounded rationality, namely, a preference for crisis response, a limited range of adjustments perceived and adopted, and variations in the perception of risk and uncertainty. Perception and response were found to be associated with the nature of previous experience, perceived salience of the hazard, emotional response, and perceived responsibility, but not with socioeconomic status. The findings are discussed in terms of the rationality of behavior, the role of expectations of future occurrence, differences between earthquakes and other hazards, the true function of adjustments, and the impact of information programs.

The first section of this article describes the quality of the home environment of some 200 families and identifies 4 dimensions useful in characterizing home environments. The second section relates these home environment descriptors to a series of antecedent factors likely to influence the organization and quality of the home environment. Data are presented for each set of antecedent factors separately, and combined in a series of regression analyses. Results indicate that each antecedent factor has some effect, but that values and cultural/lifestyle choices, rather than material conditions, are the strongest predictors of home environment differences.

Floods can never be eliminated completely and so long as flood plains are used for economic activities and residential purposes, property damage will ensue. Occupants and other active agencies on the flood plain of the Hunter River Valley, Australia, exhibit a high degree of awareness of the dangers associated with floods. However, changing assessment of the hazard and reevaluation of social and environmental circumstances in the valley have led to a greater dependence on large-scale engineering works for flood protection.

The major purpose of this article is to suggest approaches for assessing and evaluating sheltered living environments. First, a multidimensional approach to environmental assessment is described. Second, we present a set of outcome criteria that can be used to evaluate the effects of environmental dimensions. We then suggest several approaches for utilizing information about environments to increase the fit between people and environments, and to facilitate change in environments.

This study finds that, although energy policy preferences are related to political party identification, they are often more strongly related to perceived seriousness of the energy situation, to education, and to age. Those who perceive the situation to be serious, and the young, are more likely than others to favor conservation and abandonment of existing energy supplies in favor of nonconventional supplies. Also, the partisan dimension of the energy issue is found to increase as consideration of the issue becomes more specific.