Acceso usuarios
Fabien Girandola
Evidence from psychological research has shown the importance of fear onattitude and/or behavior change. First, this article reviews theoretical explanations and recent experimental research regarding persuasive and resistance effects. A four-step model is then proposed concerning fear-based appeals in health communications. Several variables are particularly important : description of the threat, prevention or detection behaviors as responses, self-efficacy or individual's belief in his or her ability to perform the recommended response to the threat, danger and fear control processes and their impact on subsequent attitude and behavior, and past behaviors. These variables must be simultaneously taken into account if one wants to set up an effective fear-persuasive communication campaign.
