Individual's Immediately Behavioral Responses Modes and Influencing Factors in Earthquake-The Case of Lushan Earthquake

The characteristics and classification of individuals' behavioral responses during earthquakes and the important influencing factors were examined in this paper. The research findings reveal that immediate behavioral responses during earthquakes include escaping, seeking shelter, seeking information, freezing, altruistic behavior, protecting property and having no reaction. Individuals' behaviors within half an hour after an earthquake in order are contacting family members, information communication, undertaking actions, evacuation, seeking affiliation and no reaction. Immediate behavioral responses can be divided into four modes based on two dimensions involving the extent of controllability and arousal. The behavioral response modes are influenced by individuals' shock perception, risk perception, conformity, earthquake experience and reaction capacity. In order to effectively cope with earthquake and reduce the damage caused from earthquake, we suggest that government manager should focused on specific group of people that mostly need help based on different behavioral response modes, enhance earthquake education and drills, and improve disaster relief and risk communication system.