Responses to Natural Disasters

Flashcards about different aspects of sociological and psychological research on responses to natural disasters.

Sociological Definition of Panic (Alexander, 2011)

A spontaneous defensive reaction pattern, an asocial response to threat that is perceived to be severe and immediate.

Conditions that Facilitate Panic

Physiological (e.g., abnormal blood pressure), Psychological (emotional tension), Psychosocial (rapid mental contagion), Social (shattering group solidarity), External (crisis situation).

Individual Panic vs. Mass Panic

Sociologists assert that panic can occur at the individual, primary group, and crowd level, considering cultural and environmental factors.

Contributing Factors to Panic

Perception of immediate and severe danger, limited number of escape routes, perception that escape routes are imminently blocked, and lack of communication about the situation.

Phases of Disaster (Janis, 1954)

Threat (danger perceived but not present), Danger impact (actions taken to avoid danger, where panic may set in), Danger victimization (risks abated, full extent of losses perceived).

Criticisms of the Notion that Panic is Common in Disasters

Chaos arises from inadequately coordinated behavior, panic is stereotyped by observers and the media, flight is a rational response, panic conditions are rare and studied retrospectively, social ties survive shocks.

Panic Definition

Inappropriate (or excessive) and highly intense fear and/or flight; common symptoms include anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness as normal reactions to abnormal events.

Conditions for Flight

Major physical danger is present or imminent, escape routes are limited or rapidly closing.

Affiliative Model (Mawson, 2005)

People with close ties first seek to find each other and then attempt to escape as a group, rather than competing for limited exits.

Typical Response to Danger (Attachment Theory)

Affiliation - seeking the proximity of familiar conspecifics and places, even if it involves remaining in or approaching situation of danger.

Direction of Flight (Disasters)

Not always directed toward an objectively safe place, but tends to be part of a wider response that involves movement away from danger and movement toward objects and situations that are familiar and perceived as safe.

Precipitating Conditions for Flight

Alarming events (fire, weapons, explosions, epidemics, invasions), predisposing conditions (fatigue, illness, malnutrition), psychosocial factors (isolation, poor morale, loss of confidence in leadership).

Physical vs. Psychosocial Stress

Physical danger appear to be far less disturbing than separation from familiar surroundings and people.

Prevention of Panic (Attachment Theory)

People are calmed by being with attached people and places; visitors are more likely to panic and flee than residents.

Summary of Attachment Theory (Disasters)

Maintaining proximity to familiars is the dominant motive; flight is one aspect of a response that moves people away from danger and toward familiar people and places; social context influences perception of and response to danger.

Typology of Responses to Danger

Affiliation, Orderly Evacuation by Non-residents, Evacuation of Community Residents, Intense Flight and Affiliation.

Social Theories for Assessing Human Behavior in Dangerous Situations

Emergent Norm Theory and Self-Categorization Theory. Humans naturally respond to disaster scenarios by seeking social norms and attachments.

Panic Buying Definition

The sudden increase in the consumption of certain goods due to perception or expectation of adverse situations (stockpiling).

Examples of Panic Buying

Supply disruption risk during disasters, anticipating severe snowstorms, Y2K Millennium Bug, Oil Crisis of 1973, fear of gun control after election.

Hot Crisis

A real-world event is amplified by the news coverage which can be 'panic-intensifying' (emphasis on risks, blame, speculation) versus 'panic-reducing' messages which emphasize solutions and praise.

Goods typically panic bought

Essential medicines, cleaning supplies, feminine hygiene products, groceries, bottled water, paper products, fuels

Panic buying makes sense

Pharmaceutics, fuel, potable water, and food are necessary.

Characteristics of Panic Buyers

Occurs across all social classes; older people are more likely to panic buy than younger people.

Causes of panic buying

Preventative behaviors aim to maintain hygiene; Avoidant behaviors that aim to reduce the risk of catching the disease

Lack of Social Capital (Panic Buying)

People with high social capital are less likely to panic buy because they are less afraid of not getting what they think they need.

Anxiety/Coping (Panic Buying)

Stress response. Compensatory control theory. Panic buying helps alleviate anxiety during event or impending event. Getting control over something when you feel out of control. In fact, you cannot control nature or a virus.

Psychological needs related to comfort

Having toilet paper brings us comfort, not having it, or the concern of running out, makes us anxious.

Hoarding behavior before and during a disaster

Form of self-protective behavior, planned behavior in an attempt to minimize risk using stores of supplies conferring sense of safety and well-being.

Infodemic

Referring to an overabundance of information – some accurate and some not, that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it.

Contagion theory

We act irrationally when exposed to crowd emotion and behavior.

Recommendations

Officials can become better at communicating functioning supply chains and plans for long term availability of desired goods.

Survivors Guilt

Some may feel relief and thankfulness but can turn to guilt

Hutson et al. (2015): Antecedents of Survivors Guilt

Personal characteristics - Identification - Sense of fairness - Socio-cultural expectations

Hutson et al. (2015): Consequences of Survivors Guilt

Reduce intensity of experience - Restore order and routine - Reduce further trauma or injury - Safe spaces Change in our identity - Relationships can become troubled - Mental / physical fallout - Resolution.

Memory and anniversary

At first can’t look at pictures or sentimental items, but eventually come to a place where you can, and they become meaningful and treasured.

Nadir (2001): Look at survival as an achievement.

Communicating to the survivor that while they feel guilty, surviving is an accomplishment.

Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG)

An improvement in the mental health that occurs while a person develops a better understanding of the meaning of traumatic events and starts to gain hope for life.

Calhoun and Tedeschi's five areas of Post Traumatic Growth

Self-Perception /The change in self-concept allows that the person is more vulnerable, but stronger. Changed Relationships with Other People / Increase sense of closeness with others, New possibilities / A vacancy in one’s life can leave room for others to enter, Appreciation of life / appreciation of life can result, Existential Elements / May have existential questions within or outside of spiritual and religious belief systems.

Shattered Assumptions

When an event challenges the existing world beliefs, the individual must deal not only with the result of the death, but the guiding principles about how the world works is assumed to work must be reassessed.

Socio-cultural Influences in PTG

Knowing someone who has had a similar experience and has demonstrated growth can facilitate growth. Also, sharing with someone who understands both the event and the person who went through the trauma (like a partner) can help facilitate growth. It can also lead to improved relationship quality.

Helping Facilitate Growth as an Expert Companion

Must tolerate the fact that bereavement can be a longer-term process than what is expected by friends, family or the bereaved person themselves.

Coping strategies for moving toward post-traumatic growth

Religious belief and spirituality can increase changes of growth as well as positive reappraisal of a negative event.

Definition of Culture (Fiske, 2002)

A socially constructed constellation consisting of such things as practices, competencies, ides, schemas, symbols, norms, institutions, goals, constitutive rules, artifacts and modifications of the physical environment.

Proximate culture

Real people with whom the individual interacts. They communicate assumptions about the world

Distal culture

Influences that either are geographically removed (distant) or transmitted through media (movies, books, podcasts, social medial). Popular culture.

Seven aspects of disaster recovery

Donations and Financial support - Solidarity and Social Cohesion - Information sharing and activism in communities - Post-Disaster Reconstruction and Infrastructure Services - Socioeconomic and Physical Well-being - Information Support During Disaster Recovery - Mental Health and Emotional Support - Business and Economic Activities

Social media categories support (Twitter)

Emotional or nurturant support Tangible support Informational support Symbolic support Role support Circumstance support

Categories of Twitter messages after Hurricane Irma

Reporting own experiences- Impact -Commenting on news coverage Status of recovery

Gaps in research and future investigations

Most research so far has been done in North America. Need to keep up with emerging platforms and different demographic groups that use different platforms. Need to cover longer term recovery. Little work done on danger and recovery of animals – both pets, wildlife and livestock.