Environmental Psychology Lecture Notes: CH 7 Disasters Natural Disasters Characteristics Caused by natural forces (not under human control) Disrupts the communities it effects

Precipitating disaster event (May short or long duration)

Then there is a judgment of disruption or damage of that event Mostly dealing with physical destruction

What's most important is social disruption There can be both social & physical effects or just social disruption

Technological Disasters Blackouts Transportation accidents Oil spills Leakage of toxic chemicals from waste dumps Dam failures Bridge collapse Mining accidents Nuclear meltdown at power plants

Technological Disasters: Characteristics Human Made: human error or miscalculation Control: Psych elements of surprise & uncertainty. Because these disasters are not supposed to

happen. They are supposed to work not fail. Not always visible

Public awareness varies from little knowledge (petrochemical threat) to highly publicized threats (nuclear radiation)

Often difficult to cope directly with technological threats such as nuclear war. Social protest often serve as a way of coping.

For technological disaster effects may have acute onset, but frequently show chronic effects as well. e.g. Damn may break Quickly and the disaster is over, however the effects can be felt for

years. **Conflict and controversy over technological disasters often occurs**

Disaster Response Syndrome Most disaster victims are rescued by other victims (also being impacted by the event) Most victims shift from a "personalized reaction" to a "member of the community reaction"

Stage 1:

Surpise last less than one minute

Stage 2: Recovery that shifts from self as only victim to awareness of others as victims

Stage 3: Community identification (self identifying as part of that group Seeking out more information Feelings of compassion Strong identification with destruction of community

Impacts of Disasters (Aftereffects)

Physical & social Effects There is often a delay in physical symptoms, often up to 6 months (they happen right

away too) Physical aftereffects can include:

Increased rates of auto accidents (possibly due to stress etc) More heart and digestive disorders reported

Social aftereffects can include: Can have negative effects: intra-family conflicts Increased divorce rates Increased organization conflicts

** generally atributed to stress levels, coping mechanisms exhausted* Psychological effects:

Right after event may see Increased stress, anxiety, depression, & other mood/perceptual disturbances Generally Short-term (tend to disipate sooner than people expect) 25 to

35% continue to have problems though PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder (specific disorder)

Frequent, unwanted, uncontrollable thoughts (incredibly visible/ sensory memory)

Motivation to avoid reminders Sleep disturbances Social Withdrawal Heightened arousal

Other problems less problematic than PTSD Nightmares Depression Intrusive threats

Impacts of disasters Estimated that 20-25% of victims need some form of psychological counseling Selfish and opportunistic behaviors may increase after immediate needs are met

Assessing Disaster Impacts

Researchers have tried to develop systems for rating the level of a disaster EX: Foster's Ten Magnitude System

Magnitude ranges from 1 - 10 (1 being low & 10 being extremely high) Designation Ranging from minor to Disastrous

Consequences that increase distress

Secondary stressors or events causing greater life changes

(loss of income) Injury and/or witnessing injury or death of others The disaster directly threatens your life Financial loss/damage Separation from family/ relocation to a new location Disruption of the environment Bereavement (losing someone you actually know)

Social support & age

Social Support Important coping mechanism for stress Disasters can both increase need for social support & deplete social support

resources (more likely that numerous people within the event need support and thus have

less to provide to others in need) Age:

Children's response is similar to adults, but children tend to recover more quickly (depends on the severity of event) Can be due to parent's focusing on children, possibly memory and attention

Middle Aged care takers are generally the most effected. (more stress, and more coping need)

Activism in Disasters

Who are the people who stay in a disaster area and become active in coping with the disaster? (Rochford & Blocker, 1991)

Factors that tend to do participate in activism People who appraise the disaster as controllable People who appraise the disaster as threatening The strategy in how to cope:

People who engage in problem-focused coping (participate in activism) Looking for strategies on how to make the problem go away.

**Changing the stressors** not the stress NOT people who engage in emotion-focused coping (people who emotion-focused

coping likely leave) Changing the stress. (drinking, drug use to numb anxiety/depression) not the stressor

Other Disasters Disasters with more Social Aspects

Terrorist Attacks (9/11, Norway) Civil disobedience (riots in England)