Citation

Proulx G. J. Environ. Psychol. 1993; 13(2): 137-147.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Academic Press)

DOI

10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80146-X

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The safe evacuation of public buildings in an emergency requires the user to engage in rapid and appropriate decision-making under stressful conditions. To illustrate the complexity of the interaction components and the user's effort to psychologically cope with a fire, a stress model has been developed. This stress model accounts for different emotional stages users can experience during a fire emergency. The emotional stages of control, uncertainty, fear, worry and confusion are defined. The stress model is used to argue that information must be provided during the emergency to motivate evacuation behaviour, reduce stress and support the decision-making process required in a successful evacuation. Although the stress model was not tested as such, results from an evacuation experiment and a real fire report are used to illustrate the model's stages.