School of Psychology staff

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  • Auckland campus 64 9 414 0800
  • Manawatū campus 64 6 356 9099
  • Wellington campus: 64 4 801 5799
Dr Lauren Vinnell staff profile picture

Contact details +64 (06) 356 9099

Dr Lauren Vinnell PhD

Senior Lecturer

Doctoral Co-Supervisor
School of Psychology

Professional

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy - Victoria University (2020)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Co-Supervisor, Massey University

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Natural hazard preparation, behaviour during disasters, public education campaigns, social psychology, behaviour change

Thematics

Health and Well-being

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Psychology (170100): Psychology And Cognitive Sciences (170000): Social and Community Psychology (170113)

Research Projects

Current Projects

Project Title: Increasing resilience to natural hazards through improved understanding of risk perception and communication

Despite decades of education efforts as well as repeated natural hazard events such as earthquakes and cyclones, public preparedness for these events does not seem to be notably increasing. This may be due to incorrect assumptions about how lay people understand, perceive, and choose to act on risk as well as insufficient, and potentially even detrimental, risk communication efforts. This project will address gaps within decades of research to better understand lay conceptions of risk and explore how this understanding can be used to improve the ways in which we communicate risk and risk reduction actions to the public. Overall, this work will increase the effectiveness of public education efforts to promote and encourage natural hazard preparedness, ultimately contributing to a more resilient Aotearoa.
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Date Range: 2025 - 2029

Funding Body: Royal Society of New Zealand

Project Team:

Research Outputs

Journal

Goltz, JD., Nakayachi, K., & Vinnell, L. (2026). Individual User-Derived Assessments of Earthquake Early Warning Systems: A Social Science Review of Response, Perception, and Evaluation of Usefulness. Natural Hazards Review. 27(1)
[Journal article]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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Curd, A., Vinnell, L., & Johnston, DM. (2025). Exploring the role of search and rescue non-government organisations in emergency events: a systematic review in Aotearoa New Zealand. Australian Journal of Emergency Management. 40(1), 22-32
[Journal article]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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Das, M., Becker, JS., Doyle, EEH., Charlton, D., Clive, MA., Krippner, J., . . . McBride, SK. (2025). The communication of volcano information in New Zealand–a narrative review. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 68(4), 591-608
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Das, M., Hudson-Doyle, E., Stewart, C., Tapuke, K., Vinnell, L.
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1
Becker, JS., Vinnell, LJ., Doyle, EEH., McBride, SK., Paton, D., & Johnston, DM. (2024). A decade of shaking in the Garden City: the dynamics of preparedness, perceptions, and beliefs in Canterbury, New Zealand, and implications for earthquake information. Frontiers in Communication. 9
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Hudson-Doyle, E., Vinnell, L.
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2
Vinnell, LJ. (2024). Book review: ¡Alerta!: Engineering on Shaky Ground. Earthquake Spectra. 40(2), 1604-1606Retreived from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/eeri/earthquake-spectra/article-abstract/40/2/1604/639002/Book-review-Alerta-Engineering-on-Shaky-Ground?redirectedFrom=fulltext
[Book Review]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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Vinnell, LJ., Milfont, TL., & McClure, J. (2023). Natural Hazard Versus Natural Disaster: Does Framing the Event Affect Preparedness Intentions, Attitudes, and Behaviour?. Social Psychological Bulletin. 18
[Journal article]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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3
Tan, ML., Vinnell, LJ., Valentin, APM., Prasanna, R., & Becker, JS. (2023). The public's perception of an earthquake early warning system: A study on factors influencing continuance intention. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 97
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Rahubadde Kankanamge, R., Tan, M., Vinnell, L.
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15
Vinnell, LJ., Tan, ML., Prasanna, R., & Becker, JS. (2023). Knowledge, perceptions, and behavioral responses to earthquake early warning in Aotearoa New Zealand. Frontiers in Communication. 8
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Rahubadde Kankanamge, R., Tan, M., Vinnell, L.
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10
Miranda, C., Becker, JS., Toma, CL., & Vinnell, LJ. (2023). Homeowners' Perceptions of Seismic Building Performance and Implications for Preparedness in New Zealand. Natural Hazards Review. 24(1)
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Vinnell, L.
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5
Vinnell, LJ., Becker, JS., Doyle, EEH., & Gray, L. (2023). COVID-19 vaccine intentions in Aotearoa New Zealand: Behaviour, risk perceptions, and collective versus individual motivations. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology. 4
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Hudson-Doyle, E., Vinnell, L.
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1
Becker, JS., Blake, D., Thompson, J., Vinnell, LJ., & Doyle, EEH. (2023). Communicating evacuation information to multi-storey apartment dwellers: a case study of the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 66(2), 177-191
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Hudson-Doyle, E., Vinnell, L.
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1
Johnston, DM., Vinnell, LJ., Becker, JS., & Kaiser, L. (2022). Children and Disasters: A tribute to Professor Kevin Ronan. Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies. 26(2), 63-65
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Kaiser, L., Vinnell, L.
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Becker, JS., Vinnell, LJ., McBride, SK., Nakayachi, K., Doyle, EEH., Potter, SH., . . . Bostrom, A. (2022). The Effects of Earthquake Experience on Intentions to Respond to Earthquake Early Warnings. Frontiers in Communication. 7
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Hudson-Doyle, E., Vinnell, L.
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17
Vinnell, LJ., Inch, P., Johnston, DM., & Horspool, N. (2022). Behavioral responses to earthquake shaking: Video footage analysis of the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. Earthquake Spectra. 38(3), 1636-1660
[Journal article]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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17
Vinnell, LJ., Hudson-Doyle, EE., Inch, P., Tan, ML., Becker, JS., & Johnston, DM. (2022). Evacuation Behavior and Information Needs of Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand Residents Following the 5 March 2021 Mw 7.3 East Cape Earthquake. Seismological Research Letters. 93(3), 1452-1463
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Hudson-Doyle, E., Tan, M., Vinnell, L.
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11
Vinnell, LJ., Milfont, TL., & McClure, J. (2021). Why do people prepare for natural hazards? Developing and testing a Theory of Planned Behaviour approach. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology. 2
[Journal article]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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22
Vinnell, LJ., Hudson-Doyle, EE., Johnston, DM., Becker, JS., Kaiser, L., Lindell, MK., . . . Terbush, B. (2021). Community preparedness for volcanic hazards at Mount Rainier, USA. Journal of Applied Volcanology. 10(1)
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Hudson-Doyle, E., Kaiser, L., Vinnell, L.
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4
Vinnell, LJ., Becker, JS., Scolobig, A., Johnston, DM., Tan, ML., & McLaren, L. (2021). Citizen science initiatives in high-impact weather and disaster risk reduction. Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies. 25(3), 55-60
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Tan, M., Vinnell, L.
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5
Dhellemmes, A., Leonard, GS., Johnston, DM., Vinnell, LJ., Becker, JS., Fraser, SA., . . . Paton, D. (2021). Tsunami awareness and preparedness in Aotearoa New Zealand: The evolution of community understanding. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 65
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Vinnell, L.
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39
Miranda, C., Becker, JS., Toma, CL., Vinnell, LJ., & Johnston, DM. (2021). Seismic experience and structural preparedness of residential houses in Aotearoa New Zealand. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 66
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Vinnell, L.
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10
Alexander, D., Gaillard, JC., Kelman, I., Marincioni, F., Penning-Rowsell, E., van Niekerk, D., . . . Vinnell, LJ. (2021). Academic publishing in disaster risk reduction: past, present, and future. Disasters. 45(1), 5-18
[Journal article]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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20
48
Becker, JS., Potter, SH., Vinnell, LJ., Nakayachi, K., McBride, SK., & Johnston, DM. (2020). Earthquake early warning in Aotearoa New Zealand: a survey of public perspectives to guide warning system development. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. 7(1)
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Vinnell, L.
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57
11
Vinnell, LJ., Wallis, A., Becker, JS., & Johnston, DM. (2020). Evaluating the ShakeOut drill in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Effects on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 48
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Vinnell, L.
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43
7
Vinnell, LJ., Milfont, TL., & McClure, J. (2019). Do Social Norms Affect Support for Earthquake-Strengthening Legislation? Comparing the Effects of Descriptive and Injunctive Norms. Environment and Behavior. 51(4), 376-400
[Journal article]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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35
11
Vinnell, LJ., Milfont, TL., & McClure, J. (2019). The impact of the Kaikoura earthquake on risk-related behaviour, perceptions, and social norm messages. Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies. 23(2), 53-64
[Journal article]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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8
Vinnell, LJ., Orchiston, C., Becker, J., & Johnston, D. (2019). Pathways to earthquake resilience: Learning from past events. Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies. 23(2), 35-40
[Journal article]Authored by: Becker, J., Vinnell, L.
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4
Vinnell, LJ., McClure, J., & Milfont, TL. (2017). Do framing messages increase support for earthquake legislation?. Disaster Prevention and Management. 26(1), 28-40
[Journal article]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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Book

Becker, JS., McBride, SK., Vinnell, LJ., Saunders, WSA., Leonard, GS., Sullivan, TJ., . . . Gledhill, K. (2022). Earthquakes and tsunami. In Routledge Handbook of Environmental Hazards and Society. (pp. 13 - 32).
[Chapter]Authored by: Becker, J., Vinnell, L.
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4

Conference

Neupane, S., Inch, P., Becker, J., Vinnell, L., Goded, T., & Prasanna, R. (2024). Analysis of Felt Detailed 'Final Comments' for the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering Annual Technical Conference 2024. Christchurch, New Zealand: 2024 New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering Annual Technical Conference
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Becker, J., Vinnell, L.
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Vinnell, LJ. (2024). The role of risk perception, risk communication, and comparative risk principles in resilience building. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering Annual Technical Conference 2024. Christchurch, New Zealand: 2024 New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering Annual Technical Conference
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Vinnell, L.
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Becker, JS., Vinnell, LJ., Potter, S., Tan, ML., Prasanna, R., Nakayachi, K., . . . Johnston, DM.(2020, December 1). Perceived uses and responses to Earthquake Early Warning in Aotearoa New Zealand.. , American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2020: American Geophysical Union
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Becker, J., Vinnell, L.
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Teaching and Supervision

Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Main Supervisor 1 0
Co-supervisor 7 0

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • Aly Curd - Doctor of Philosophy
    Utilising volunteer groups for catastophic events in Aoteraora New Zealand

Co-supervisor of:

  • Kayli Taylor - Doctor of Philosophy
    Community-informed and tested messaging for earthquakes and natural disasters
  • Michelle Gillman - Doctor of Philosophy
    Health and safety leadership in New Zealand's emergency management sector. How well are frontline responder health and safety risks managed and why?
  • Jenny Stein - Doctor of Philosophy
    The drivers of disaster preparedness in Aotearoa New Zealand - A national public education viewpoint.
  • Kasuni Adikari Appuhamilage - Doctor of Philosophy
    Advancing Earthquake Resilience - A Multi-Modal Approach to Analysing Human Behaviour
  • Jonathan Black - Doctor of Philosophy
    Factors supporting wellbeing, retention and performance of volunteers in an emergency response context
  • view more...
  • Kianoush Rostami - Doctor of Philosophy
    Differences in Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) in countries with earthquake-resilient buildings versus more vulnerable building stock
  • Sajan Neupane - Doctor of Philosophy
    Understanding human behaviour following damaging earthquakes in Aotearoa New Zealand: Using citizen science information to inform earthquake resilience

Professor Emeritus
Prof Ian M Evans

Honorary Teaching and Research Fellow
Dr Ross Flett

Honorary Research Fellow
Dr Amanda Young-Hauser

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Last updated on Tuesday 15 July 2025