Protecting the Castle: Applying Protection Motivation Theory to Explain the Use of Home Guardianship

• Main Author: Clubb, Audrey C
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Archive @ GSU 2012
• Subjects: Protection Motivation Theory; Burglary; Home Guardianship; Fear
• Online Access: http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/cj_theses/4; http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=cj_theses

Home guardianship measures provide individuals with a means to enhance and ensure the safety of themselves, their family, and their property inside their homes. However, research regarding the factors considered in the decision to employ home guardianship measures as well as the means by which individuals assess this information regarding potential threats and protective responses is limited and varied in its implementation. This study attempts to provide a theoretical framework for understanding the use of home guardianship measures with the application of a modified version of Ronald Rogers’ (1983) Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) model. This model assesses factors that directly contribute to the motivation to engage in protective measures as well as cognitive processes through which an individual assesses these factors. This study finds support both for the direct relationships between sources of information about potential threats or protective responses and the use of home guardianship measures, as well as support for mediating effects of these relationships. In conclusion, this study provides suggestions for future research to further examine the application of PMT to understand the use of guardianship measures.