8th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Presenter(s): Tyrus Mercer
Title: Are Gender and Prior Hurricane Experience Associated with Decision Making and Vicarious Emotions?
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Jutta Street , Psychology

This research study discusses how gender and previous hurricane experience relate to vicarious emotion and decision making when people are confronted by a hurricane. Vicarious emotions are emotions that you experience indirectly. There were a total of 38 participants: 20 females and 18 males. The participants took a 12-question survey regarding their gender, prior hurricane experience, vicarious emotions, and decision making. The findings showed a stronger association for males than for females between decision making and experience and between decision making and vicarious emotion. However, there was no gender difference when in the association between experience and emotions.