Taking Care: Understanding and Encouraging Self-Protective Behavior

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.

The reasons why people take precautions and why they don't are examined by experts from a wide range of fields, who explore the theoretical and practical issues involved in understanding self-protective behavior.