Household Emergency Preparedness: What drives people to (not) prepare for future societal and environmental crises?

Why do citizens (not) prepare for emergencies?Extreme weathers, floods, and wildfires are more common and severe than in past years (IPCC, 2022). Citizens’ emergency preparedness is essential for society to coop with future crises (MSB, 2010). Yet, many citizens are not prepared for these emergencies.

The present project seeks to answer the following questions:Which psychological barriers people citizens from undertaking emergency preparedness?What motivates people to (not) undertake emergency preparedness?This interdisciplinary research program includes 3 phases:Phase 1 meta-analysis summarizing determinants for emergency preparedness.We will conduct the first meta-analysis on determinants for emergency preparedness, a unique study, summarizing the state of the art and providing a theoretical and empirical basis for the project.Phase 2 survey methods and experiments assessing why citizens do (not) undertake emergency preparedness.We will conduct survey measures in areas affected by extreme weather events (see pilot study), and randomized controlled trials to assess determinants for emergency preparedness.

Phase 3 acceptance of policies aimed to stimulate emergency preparedness.In an interdisciplinary collaboration between psychology and political science, we will test citizens’ acceptance of policies aimed to stimulate emergency preparedness.The project will result in a summary, development, and implementation of knowledge to understand and stimulate emergency preparedness.