HOUSEHOLD BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKE RISK - AN ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE THEORIES

Households respond to earthquake risk in different was. The main theor ies explaining human behaviour under threat of earthquakes are reviewe d. A survey of households' responses in Tehran and Rasht in Iran to ea rthquake risks is used to assess the validity of psychological, 'need' , socio-cultural and economic theories in explaining behaviour. More s upport of cognitive and cultural theories is found rather than economi c and 'need' theories of earthquake safety measures; this suggests tha t positive adoption of mitigation measures can be encouraged in terms of cognitive processes through information and education.