Abstract

Applied researchers are interested in understanding and predicting behaviors during disaster situations where alarms provide warnings of impending danger. The prior applied research indicates that responses to warning alarms are less than optimal. Prior research in social psychology has implicated attitudes as an important causal factor in behaviors. In the current study, we analyze whether attitudes towards the alarms, or attitudes towards complying with the alarms, has a stronger effect on participant compliance behavior. The data reveal that most people do not dislike the alarm itself; it is complying with the alarm that they dislike. We discuss the theoretical and applied implications of these findings.