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IDRC14_Human_behavior_in_disaster_Anna-Lena_Koeng
This document summarizes a literature study on human behavior in disasters. It finds that: 1) There is little empirical research on human behavior in disasters, especially in Switzerland. Traditional approaches viewed the public as passive, while new approaches emphasize individual coping behaviors. 2) Panic, looting, and violence are rare; most people react calmly and help each other. Prosocial behavior occurs across cultures. 3) Many factors influence coping behavior, including risk perception, trust, knowledge, culture, age, resources, and disaster characteristics. Strengthening individual coping skills and tailored communication can promote appropriate responses.
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- 1. 5th International Disasterand Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Human Behavior in Disaster Literature Study Commissioned by the Federal Office for Civil Protection (BABS) Anna-Lena Köng, Matthias Holenstein Risk Dialogue Foundation, August 26th 2014 1
- 2. 5th International Disasterand Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Introduction Background and goals • Few empirical findings – Especially in Switzerland relative low risk perception of Swiss public due to lack of major incidents • Traditional approaches – General public as a passive element that needs to be informed and guided • New approaches – Significance of the individual coping behavior und its enhancement Summarizing of the current state of scientific knowledge Identification of essential factors influencing appropriate coping behavior 2
- 3. 5th International Disasterand Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Often discussed behavioral patterns Panic, looting, altruism • Panic and looting are rare and overestimated • The majority reacts calm, rational and prosocial • Difference between looting as a consequence of hunger and looting as a consequence of violence and egoism • Satisfaction of basic needs and appropriate disaster communication are important factors to avoid violence and looting • Prosocial behavior can be found between cultures, it is also described explicitly in later phases, during reconstruction Adaptation oft expectations of how human will behave in order to guarantee appropriate measures These findings are replicated many times - it seems reasonable to transfer these findings to Switzerland 3
- 4. Preconditions Action frame 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Factors on coping behavior Schematic overview 4 Measures • Disaster precautions • Disaster communication Target variable Appropriate coping behavior Mechanisms • Information processing • Stress resistance • Self-efficacy Variable factors • Risk perception • Trust in relevant institutions • Knowledge Social dispositions • Culture • Sex • Age/experience • Domicile • Economical resources • Social resources Event specific factors • Region and time • Manmade vs. natural
- 5. 5th International Disasterand Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Measures Requirements for appropriate disaster precautions • Involvement of the general public – Increase knowledge and trust preventive CH: High trust in public authorities – Provide clear information – Enhancing social networks as neighborhood help – Informing public about possibilities of social media tools • Target group specific precautions – women, young people, persons living in urban areas, people with few social and economic resources show less appropriate coping behavior • Consideration of emotional aspects – booklets and flyers mainly contain technical information but miss emotional aspects, e.g. how to deal with uncertainty 5
- 6. 5th International Disasterand Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Measures Requirements for appropriate disaster communication (1) • Warnings – Framing, presentation and channel of information – Target group • Foster appropriate risk perception – Consider gap between lay persons and experts • Foster readiness to act – Convey appropriate target group specific behavior • Credibility of information – Local persons are more trusted – The more involvement the higher the confidence in public authorities – Transparency is an essential requirement 6
- 7. 5th International Disasterand Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Measures Requirements for appropriate disaster communication (2) • Consideration of media use of affected people – Social and cultural environment needs to be considered • Consideration of chances and risks of new media – Chances: independent, fast, interactive, satisfaction of various needs, social networks, possibility of feedback, etc. – Risks: Difficulties of verification, social fragmentation, etc. • Influence of emotions on perception – «Risk as a feeling» vs. «risk as analysis»: Risks that are transmitted emotionally sometime have a higher impact on risk decisions than risk that are transmitted rationally – The use of fear appeal should be checked depending on the initial situation 7
- 8. 5th International Disasterand Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Mechanisms • Information processing – The increase of knowledge and fostering of appropriate risk perceptions supports an appropriate information processing and coping behavior – If the risk perception is not appropriate trust is even more important • Stress resistance – The stress theory points to the relevance of appropriate self-efficacy expectations, which is a predictor for the choice of appropriate coping strategies • The strengthening of the self-efficacy expectations leads to appropriate coping behavior 8
- 9. 5th International Disasterand Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Conclusion 1. Little empirical information about human behavior in disaster 2. Panic, looting and violence is far less often than conventional wisdom insinuates, prosocial behavior instead is underestimated 3. Behavior is difficult to predict and control goal should be the strengthening of the individual coping behavior taking into account social and event specific dispositions and target group specific communication supports appropriate coping behavior 4. Researches comparing different countries point out that many findings can be transferred - public authorities can profit from one-another 9
- 10. 5th International Disasterand Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Thank you! Risk Dialogue Foundation Technoparkstrasse 2 CH-8406 Winterthur Switzerland Tel. +41 52 551 10 04 www.risiko-dialog.ch anna-lena.koeng@risiko-dialog.ch 10
- 11. Added value forthe Post 2015 Framework for 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Disaster Risk Reduction • How did your work support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action: – Consolidation of scientific state of knowledge – Schematic overview of factors affecting appropriate coping behavior – Relevance of target group specific communication • From your perspective what are the main gaps, needs and further steps to be addressed in the Post 2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in – Research: Empirical data, use of social media tools, target group specific communication (social and cultural milieus) – Education & Training: Adaptation of expectations regarding panic, looting, violence and altruism; knowledge about when and how the public can be involved during disaster 11
Editor's Notes
- #4 1. by the public and decision makers 3. This implies that there are big differences between developing countries and economically strong countries What does this mean for disaster management? Firstly risk communicators and disaster experts should adapt… Secondly it’s important to note that these findings.. --
- #5 involvement of the general public gains importance and the individual coping behavior -> factors influencing appropriate coping behavior. With disaster precautions and disaster management its possible to directly influence these variable factors and those in turn have a significant impact on coping behavior through these mechanisms.
- #6 Change of paradigm indicates-> the involvement of the public has become much more significant. CH: Public authorities enjoy great confindence
- #9 variable factors trust, risk perception and knowledge are codetermined by the preconditions and disaster management.