The Effectiveness of Fear Appeals Featuring Fines versus Social Disapproval in Preventing Shoplifting Among Adolescents
研究恐惧诉求中惩罚类型（社会不赞成 vs. 罚款）、被抓概率和惩罚严重程度对预防青少年偷窃的效果，发现低被抓概率时社会不赞成需强调严重程度，而罚款则无论概率高低都应强调大额罚款。
ABSTRACT The present study investigates the effectiveness of fear appeals, including type of punishment (social disapproval vs. fines), probability of getting caught when shoplifting, and severity of the punishment, in preventing shoplifting among adolescents. Results show that when the chance of getting caught is low, social punishment messages should stress severe levels of social disapproval. When social disapproval messages imply a high probability of apprehension, the severity of social rejection does not affect shoplifting intentions. Finally, messages focusing on fines should depict large instead of small fines, irrespective of the communicated probability of getting caught.