Terrorism risk perception and individual response in Canada: A social -cognitive perspective.

摘要

With the aim of shedding light on potential strategies to enhance preparedness for terrorism in Canada, the overarching goal of the present thesis was to develop, test, and refine a social-cognitive model of individual response to terrorism. The specificity of terrorism risk perceptions was explored in a first multi-hazard study, where they were compared with those of other hazards. Analyses performed on data of a national telephone survey on health risk perception (N = 1,503) revealed that Canadians perceive terrorism as posing a relatively low, although uncertain threat. They also perceive themselves as having relatively little control over terrorism, perhaps resulting from the wider social contextual implications of this threat. In order to further clarify the nature of various cognitive dimensions of terrorism risk perceptions, identify potential social contextual factors of interest, and extend the examination to behavioural responses to terrorism, a qualitative analysis was performed on sections of interview transcripts, where individuals from across Canada discussed their concerns and decisions regarding terrorism (N = 73). Six related overarching themes were discussed (Threat, Uncertainty, Control, Context Issues, Psychological Response, and Behavioural Response). Behavioural responses to terrorism were discussed in relation to psychological responses such as concern or worry, and both appeared to be determined by the same factors. From findings, a social-cognitive model was developed specifying cognitive and social contextual (i.e., perceptions of authorities' regulation of terrorism) determinants of psychological and behavioural responses to terrorism. This model was tested on data of a national survey on perceived terrorism threat and preparedness (N = 1,502). As expected, worry and behavioural responses to terrorism were associated with similar cognitive and social contextual factors. Worry also partially mediated relationships of these factors with behavioural responses. Indices reflecting a greater perceived terrorism threat were associated with both favourable and unfavourable responses. By contrast, perceived coping efficacy emerged as the cognitive factor associated with the most favourable responses. Specific findings underscore the dangers of strategies that overemphasize the threat of terrorism in order to promote individual preparedness, and highlight the value of strategies aimed at enhancing individuals' perceived ability to cope with potential emergencies.