Taking Care: Understanding and Encouraging Self-Protective Behavior

by Neil D. Weinstein

Overview

Taking Care examines the reasons why people take precautions - and the reasons why they do not. Some authors offer theoretical perspectives on issues ranging from the cognitive processes of the individual to the values and historical trends in the larger society to illuminate the puzzle of self-protective behaviour. Others look at prevention programmes themselves: the forms they take, the assumptions they make, and the success or failure they meet. A unique feature of the book is its attention to different types of hazards and its integration of the knowledge that has been gained from research and practical experience in health promotion, natural hazards preparedness, occupational safety and health, consumer safety and community crime prevention. The underlying questions addressed in these different fields of study are much the same, but in the past there has been little communication.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521324359
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/13/1987
Pages:	364
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.29(h) x 1.18(d)

Table of Contents

List of contributors; Acknowledgements; Introduction: studying self-protective behaviour Neil D. Weinstein; Part I. Theoretical Perspectives: 1. Behavioural decision theory perspectives on protective behaviour Paul Slovic, Baruch Fischhoff and Sarah Lichtenstein; 2. Social learning theory and preventive behaviour Alfred McAlister; 3. The role of emotion and psychological defense in self-protective behaviour James R. Averill; 4. The diffusion of innovations perspective Everett M. Rogers; 5. Cultural influences on prevention and the emergence of a new health consciousness Robert Crawford; Part II. Research and Prevention Programs for Specific Hazards; Section 1. Health: 6. Why people take precautions against health risks Paul D. Cleary; 7. Community studies of smoking cessation Surgeon General's Report; 8. Preventing adolescent smoking Kevin D. McCaul and Russell E. Glasgow; Section 2. Natural Hazards: 9. Natural hazards and precautionary behaviour Dennis S. Mileti and John H. Sorensen; 10. Programs that encourage the adoption of precautions against natural hazards: review and evaluation John H. Sorensen and Dennis S. Mileti; Section 3. Crime: 11. Why people take precautions against crime: a review of the literature on individual and collective responses to crime Stephanie W. Greenberg; 12. Promoting citizen involvement in crime prevention and control Fred Heinzelmann; Section 4. Inquiry, Safety, and Occupational Settings: 13. Injury prevention: limits to self-protective behaviour Leon S. Robertson; 14. Perspectives on protective behaviours and work place hazards Alexander Cohen; Part III. Conclusion: 15. Cross-hazard consistencies: conclusions about self-protective behaviour Neil D. Weinstein; Index.