Download PDFOpen PDF in browserPhysiological Arousal or Social Influence: Which Better Predicts Pre-Evacuation Decision-Making?10 pages•Published: June 2, 2026AbstractDelays during the pre-evacuation phase remain a leading cause of fire-related fatalities, yet the relative influence of emotional and social factors on pre-evacuation decision-making is not well understood. Previous studies show that fear heightens physiological readiness, but evidence is limited regarding whether such arousal directly leads to action or is moderated by social cues. This study addresses that gap by comparing fear-induced physiological activation and social influence in predicting evacuation behavior under simulated fire conditions. To model social influence, a trained research team member acted as a confederate, posing as a fellow participant so the real participant believed they were collaborating; during the alarm, the confederate either remained seated or exited. Twenty-two participants completed an autobiographical fear-recall task followed by a mock alarm while physiological responses were recorded using the Empatica E4 wristband. Results showed that fear induction significantly increased arousal, but physiological measures, electrodermal activity, heart rate, and temperature, did not predict evacuation decision. Participants were more likely to evacuate when the confederate left demonstrating that social cues outweighed internal activation. These findings show that emotional readiness alone is insufficient for action and highlight the importance of leadership, communication, and group modeling in improving emergency preparedness and safety training.Keyphrases: arousal, evacuation, fear, safety, social influence In: Wesley Collins, Anthony Perrenoud and John Posillico (editors). Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 62nd Annual International Conference, vol 7, pages 1172-1181.
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