THE PRE MODEL OF COPING AND TORNADO PREPAREDNESS - MODERATING EFFECTSOF RESPONSIBILITY

The person-relative-ro-event (PrE) model of coping with threat was use d to investigate the impact of fear arousing or negative threat appeal s on tornado preparedness behavior. It was predicted that negative thr eat appeals using combinations of levels of factors that cause a perso n to appraise their resources as sufficient in quantity and quality to obviate or minimize the negative consequences of the threatening even t would increase levels of preparedness behavior to a greater extent t han communications that do not. Furthermore, this prediction would onl y hold true for those individuals who felt personally responsible for preparing for tornadoes. Results indicated a significant pattern of be havior change that fit predictions generated by the model.