1.3. Limitations of Fear as a Motivator

That is they are actually want to increase your fear they want to stop your maladaptive behaviour if you do not prepare against flood then your house will be inundated. If you do not prepare built with earthquake-resistant building your building will collapse, you will die or injure.

This chunk discusses how advertisements and messages often try to motivate people by increasing their fear of certain dangers, like natural disasters. The idea is that by making you afraid of negative outcomes (like your house flooding), you will be compelled to change your behavior for the better, such as preparing for floods or earthquakes.

Think of a public service announcement about seat belts. It often highlights scary accidents to encourage people to buckle up. The fear of potential injury is used as a motivator to make safe choices.

But now the cognitive heuristic approaches they are arguing that okay why I am smoking could be different reason maybe its a kind of my pleasure, my body needs nicotine or maybe somebody told me that I look macho, handsome, smart and intelligent when I am smoking.

This chunk introduces a different viewpoint from cognitive heuristics, suggesting that behavior, such as smoking, is driven by multiple motivations beyond fear. For instance, individuals may smoke because they enjoy it or because they wish to project a certain image rather than simply because they are afraid of health consequences.

Imagine someone who eats junk food. They might know it's unhealthy, but they enjoy the taste, or they eat it because they associate it with having fun with friends. Their reasons for eating don't simply come from fear of being unhealthy.

So I know I am fat, I have obesity problem, I know my house is built in a particular area that is flood-prone or I know that I did not install the rainwater harvesting tank. But still I did not do it. Increasing fear alone doesn't result in actions.

Here, the text highlights that simply increasing fear about health and safety risks does not drive people to take action. An individual may know they are overweight or at risk for floods but might not change their behavior due to fear alone. This suggests the need for a more supportive approach that includes providing solutions.

Consider a student who fears failing a test. They might feel anxious about it, but without a study plan or help from a tutor, that fear might not motivate them to study effectively.

If tsunami is coming and you are increasing people fear. They will think okay tsunami will come one day and if I have lot of fear the only thing I can do is I can surrender.

This chunk discusses how excessive fear can lead to fatalism, where people feel helpless and unable to take action. If individuals believe that a disaster like a tsunami is inevitable and that they are powerless, they may not prepare or respond appropriately.

Think about someone facing financial issues. If they only focus on the fear of bankruptcy and don't seek help or create a budget, they may just give up and not try to improve their situation.

We should tell people what they can do it is not only they are at risk but how they can reduce the risk.

This chunk emphasizes the importance of not just conveying risks but also providing practical steps for risk reduction. It's crucial for planners and practitioners to give clear guidance on how to manage or reduce identified risks, so individuals feel empowered to act.

When trying to lose weight, just telling someone they might get heart disease won't help them. Instead, providing a clear plan for healthy eating and exercise helps them take actionable steps towards improvement.

If we can able to encourage millions of people to install this rainwater harvesting tank, then it will significantly reduce the drinking water risk in Bangladesh.

This final chunk provides a real-world example from Bangladesh, discussing how effective risk management can be implemented. By encouraging the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, communities can take proactive steps to mitigate the risk of arsenic contamination in drinking water.

Think of community gardens in urban areas. They reduce food deserts by creating spaces for people to grow their own fruits and vegetables, thus reducing health risks from poor diets and ensuring better access to fresh produce.

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