If we say that self-efficacy is a personal belief in capacity to take a certain action to produce a certain outcome then I don't see how it can be a hindrance to DRR. We believe that we can prepare or respond in certain ways and if we can then we do... More important is the need to educate people to improve the accuracy of their perception of self-efficacy.

Our experience is that the answer depends on a complex mix of cultural and government issues. Highly centralised governments tend to feel that local communities place the responsibility for preparedness on government - more federalised communities with stronger local government tend to feel joint responsibility. Check for example our case studies on community resilience at www.flinders.edu.au/tri

Self-efficacy is important in getting households to prepare for disasters but it is also important to tell people about the response efficacy of different actions in reducing likely hazard impacts on them. We refer to these as the hazard-related attributes of alternative protective actions. In addition, you help people to have accurate perceptions of the resource-related attributes of alternative protective actions--economic cost, knowledge/skill requirements, time/effort requirements, required tools/equipment, and required social cooperation.

Lindell, M.K., Arlikatti, S. & Prater, C.S. (2009). Why people do what they do to protect against earthquake risk: Perceptions of hazard adjustment attributes. Risk Analysis, 29, 1072-1088.

It depends on cultural and organizational background of the people. In Sweden, we have always been depending on our goverment to take care of us and everything else. However, new challenges (e.g. economic, political) have had an impact on our perceptions and daily life and new changes are on the way.