The role of prior experience in informing and motivating earthquake preparedness
Open accessAbstract
Motivating household preparedness for earthquakes can be difficult, especially given the infrequent and varying nature of major events. Past research has shown that people's experiences contribute to their beliefs about whether, and how, they should prepare for earthquakes. Direct experience of a disaster can be a strong motivator of preparedness; however, most people will not directly experience a large damaging earthquake in their lifetimes. They instead need to rely on experience of small earthquakes, experience of different disasters, adverse life experiences (e.g. accidents), or vicarious experience. This paper explores the influence of such experiences on earthquake preparedness. The research found that experience has seven different influences on the preparedness process including: prompting thinking and talking; raising awareness and knowledge; helping individuals understand the consequences of a disaster; developing beliefs; developing preparedness; influencing emotions and feelings; and prompting community interaction on disaster issues.
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Prior experience may enhance, reduce, or have no effect on preparedness, depending on how individuals interpret and internalize that experience.
“Prior experience may enhance, reduce, or have no effect on preparedness, depending on how individuals interpret and internalize that experience (Becker et al., 2017).”
From Assessing earthquake preparedness in a culturally diverse international students population: a case of Ehime university in Shikoku, Japan (2025) · cites this paper as Becker et al., 2017
The relationship between disaster experience and preparedness is not linear.
“Further research has shown that the relationship between disaster experience and preparedness is not linear.”
From Assessing earthquake preparedness in a culturally diverse international students population: a case of Ehime university in Shikoku, Japan (2025) · cites this paper as Becker et al., 2017
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Cites
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Than, Z. M., Oo, H. M., Aung, T., Kyi, T. T., Oo, S. S., Mar, W. L., Willkomm, M., Miller, C., Martini, S., Myint, Z. N., et al. (2023) · ERDKUNDE · doi:10.3112/erdkunde.2023.04.04 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Atalyan, T., & Bhandary, N. P. (2025) · Journal of Disaster Science and Management · doi:10.1007/s44367-025-00024-0 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Becker, J. S., Paton, D., Johnston, D. M., Ronan, K. R., & McClure, J.
- Affiliations
- GNS Science (NZ)
- Charles Darwin University (AU)
- Central Queensland University (AU)
- Victoria University of Wellington (NZ)
- Corresponding author
- Becker, Julia S.
- Venue
- International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-06
- Volume
- 22
- Pages
- 179-193
- ISSN
- 2212-4209 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2599003882
- Cited by
- 365
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 42 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 56.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Acquire (CQUniversity) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Disaster Management and Resilience
- Social Sciences › Transportation › Earthquake and Disaster Impact Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Risk Perception and Management
- Keywords
- earthquake preparedness, prior experience, household preparedness, vicarious experience, disaster experience, community interaction, disaster awareness
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