Theories

Question 1

Explain the time line concept

Answer 1

See the event as a time line comparing engineering model with behavioural model.

Engineering model - awareness, pre-movement, movement
Behavioural model - deviation from normal, decision to act in order to reduce consequenses, reach location of safety.

Question 2

In simple terms, what is the stimuli-response model?

Answer 2

Stimuli goes in to a black box and out comes a response.

The time it takes in the black box is pre-movement

Question 3

Is there a definition to the panic that is often talked about in the news when speaking of fire?

Answer 3

No there isnt any clear definition for panic. Panic attacks on the other hand has some clinical definitions. Panic and Panic attacks are not the same. Panic attacks are not a behaviour.

Question 4

What are human behaviour in fire models based on?

Answer 4

Assumptions that people behave rationally

Question 5

What is the Behaviour sequence model?

Answer 5

Key chain of events and likely decisions made during the emergency.

Question 6

Describe the general model of the behaviour sequence model?

Answer 6

Recieve information
interpret: Ignore - Investigate
Prepare: Instruct - explore - withdraw
Act: Evacuate - fight - warn - wait

How the prepare part is connected to Act it another question to come

Question 7

Beh seq: how could one act from having prepared to instruct?

Answer 7

Evacuate - Fight - Wait

Question 8

Beh seq: how could one act from having prepared to explore?

Answer 8

Fight - Warn

Question 9

Beh seq: how could one act from having prepared to withdraw?

Answer 9

Wait

Question 10

Explain the role - rule model and give and example of a likely case where it could be implemented.

Answer 10

Everyone has a role which is associated with certain rules.

In a school the teacher is considered to have more authority and therefore plays a key-part in telling the students to evacuate in the event of a fire.

Question 11

What is the affiliation theory?

Answer 11

People tend to move to familiar people and places

Question 12

During an evacuation there are cases where many emergency exits have not been used. How could this be linked with the theory of affiliation?

Answer 12

People will likely evacuate via the main entrance as that is the exit they remember and find familiar.
With many people going to the main exit leaves many emergency exits unused and the evacuation time gets longer.

Question 13

In the event of a fire, people often perceive the growth of a fire incorrectly. What theory could explain this?

Answer 13

Theory of risk perception.

People may approximate linearly but the fire grows exponentially.

Question 14

Explain the theory of Help in emergencies. What is its key parts?

Answer 14

Cue - notice cue - interpret as emergency - assume responsibility - decide to evacuate - evacuate

Question 15

Help in emergencies: How come some might chose to not assume responsibility?

Answer 15

Social influence could make one trying to be normative and not be different from the others in the group

Question 16

Explain the theory of Social influence

Answer 16

People looking at each other in pursuit of information on how to act

Question 17

Are there any negative consequences of social influence during a fire?

Answer 17

Yes.
If all are looking for information on how to act and no one want to be different from the rest of the group, who is going to take the initiative? This could prolong the time of evacuation.

Question 18

Explain the theory of social identity

Answer 18

During a fire, people share a collective social identity. Instead of only a personal identity.

Question 19

What is the protective action decision model?

Answer 19

People engage in a decision-making process before deciding to evacuate.

Info-seeking behavior occur during decision-making process and protective actions after a decision is made

Question 20

In short terms, what is the theory of affordance?

Answer 20

How we perceive things that we see.
How does an object support the user to achieve his/her goal?

Question 21

Affordande: What are the different types of affordances?

Answer 21

Sensory – feeling or seeing
Cognitive – understanding
Physical – physically doing or using
Functional – fulfill the goal

Question 22

Affordance: give an example of a possible conflict between different affordances

Answer 22

A door may be signed both emergency exit and “staff only”. It can be a conflict in the question of to use the door or not