Theory 49: Protection Motivation Theory

Number of Constructs: 23
Number of Triples: 23

Theory triples

• Initiating sources influences Threat appraisal
• Initiating sources influences Coping appraisal
• Threat appraisal influences Protection motivation
• Coping appraisal influences Protection motivation
• Protection motivation influences Action or inhibition of action
• Fear arousal influences Severity
• Environmental sources type of Initiating sources
• Intrapersonal sources type of Initiating sources
• Observational learning type of Environmental sources
• Verbal persuasion type of Environmental sources
• Prior experiences type of Intrapersonal sources
• Personality factors type of Intrapersonal sources
• Biological factors type of Intrapersonal sources
• Emotional feelings type of Intrapersonal sources
• Severity positively influences Threat appraisal
• Vulnerability positively influences Threat appraisal
• Maladaptive response positively influences Threat appraisal
• Intrinsic rewards part of Maladaptive response
• Extrinsic rewards part of Maladaptive response
• Response efficacy part of Adaptive response
• Self-efficacy part of Adaptive response
• Adaptive response positively influences Coping appraisal
• Response costs positively influences Coping appraisal

Theory constructs and annotations

• Initiating sources Environmental and intrapersonal sources of information that initiate cognitive appraisal [ ENVO:01000254 (Environmental system) 49 , BCIO:006092 (internal stimulus for behaviour) 49 2 56 47 76 72 60 58 67 63 46 4 17 5 66 9 3 10 14 ]
• Threat appraisal The overall evaluation of the rewards, severity of the threat and susceptibility to the threat [ BCIO:050791 (Threat appraisal) 49 ]
• Coping appraisal The cognitive evaluation of factors that influence a person's ability to cope with a threat [ BCIO:050765 (Self-efficacy belief for avoiding a threat) 49 ]
• Protection motivation A motivational state that activates, sustains and/or directs behaviour [ BCIO:006133 (Motivation) 49 26 23 40 20 32 39 ]
• Action or inhibition of action A self-initiated sequence of movements, usually with respect to some goal, may involve single, multiple or repeated acts or the process of restraining one's behaviour with respect to some goal [ BCIO:036000 (Individual Human Behaviour) 49 50 11 42 35 47 52 43 46 24 25 39 30 ]
• Fear arousal The elicitation of fear caused by the detection of an imminent threat [ MFOEM:000026 (Fear) 49 ]
• Severity The appraised seriousness of the threat [ BCIO:006030 (Belief about severity of an outcome) 49 29 24 ]
• Environmental sources Sources of information that are external to the individual (i.e. observational learning and verbal persuasion) [ ENVO:01000254 (Environmental system) 49 , GO:0098597 (Observational learning) 49 , BCIO:006099 (Social influence behaviour) 49 2 59 56 47 76 72 60 33 58 67 70 57 29 80 32 63 46 4 17 5 66 9 3 10 14 30 ]
• Intrapersonal sources Sources of information that come from within the individual (i.e. personality factors, prior experiences, biological experiences and emotions) [ MF:0000203 (personality trait) 49 , MFOEM:000001 (Emotion process) 49 28 1 ]
• Observational learning The acquisition of information, skills or behaviour through watching the performance of others [ GO:0098597 (Observational learning) 49 70 57 80 ]
• Verbal persuasion An active, verbal attempt to change an individual's behaviour [ BCIO:006099 (Social influence behaviour) 49 , BCIO:033000 (Behaviour change technique) 49 , BCIO:044114 (Persuasive communication style) 49 59 33 29 60 32 30 80 ]
• Prior experiences Events that have been lived through or undergone that influence behaviour [ BCIO:050483 (personal history of events that influence behaviour) 49 ]
• Personality factors The variety of unique, stable characteristics of an individual that may influence behaviour [ MF:0000203 (personality trait) 49 1 ]
• Biological factors
• Emotional feelings [ MFOEM:000001 (Emotion process) 49 , MFOEM:000006 (Subjective affective feeling) 49 46 28 ]
• Vulnerability One's perceived susceptibility to the threat [ BCIO:006031 (Belief about personal susceptibility) 49 50 29 32 27 ]
• Maladaptive response Behaviour that is detrimental, counterproductive or otherwise interferes with optimal functioning (e.g. smoking) [ BCIO:036075 (Harmful behaviour) 49 ]
• Intrinsic rewards Positive physical and psychological reinforcers for the maladaptive response (e.g. bodily pleasures, satisfaction) [ MFOEM:000035 (Pleasure) 49 , MFOEM:000169 (Satisfaction) 49 , BCIO:050688 (intrinsic reward) 49 17 23 ]
• Extrinsic rewards Positive reinforcers for the maladaptive response that are external to the individual (e.g. social approval) [ BCIO:050655 (extrinsic reward) 49 ]
• Response efficacy Beliefs about how effective a coping response will be in averting the threat [ BCIO:050623 (Coping efficacy belief) 49 ]
• Adaptive response A protective, desired response (e.g. quitting smoking) [ BCIO:036000 (Individual Human Behaviour) 49 50 11 42 35 47 52 43 46 24 25 39 30 ]
• Self-efficacy A person's beliefs about whether they are capable or incapable of performing the coping response [ BCIO:006154 (Self-efficacy belief for a behaviour) 49 31 32 29 3 35 30 34 25 ]
• Response costs The costs associated with the protective behaviour (e.g. the amount of work involved in implementing the recommendation) [ BCIO:050835 (Response cost) 49 ]

Theory illustration

Theory Reference

• Rogers, R. W. (1975). A protection motivation theory of fear appeals and attitude change. Journal of Psychology, 91, 93-114.