Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T05:58:03.701Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Misconception as a Barrier to Teaching about Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

David E. Alexander
David E. Alexander*
Affiliation:
CESPRO Centre for Civil Protection Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
*
David E. Alexander, PhD Professore a Contratto MinisterialeDipartimento di Sanita PubblicaUniversita degli Studi di FirenzeViale Morgagni 4850134 Firenze, Italy E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

This paper is a report on an exercise designed to reveal the extent of belief in the common myths about disasters held by members of four groups of students from the University of Massachusetts and three groups of trainee emergency workers from Italy.

Methods:

A questionnaire was administered in which students and trainees were asked to agree or disagree with 19 statements about disasters. These statements were based on common misconceptions about disasters and are at least statements untenable in statistical terms, if not downright wrong. In each case, a Likert scale was used to assess the strength of the students' and trainees' agreement or disagreement with the statements.

Results:

The results suggest that some of the misconceptions (for example, that panic and looting are widespread reactions to disaster) were strongly held, whereas others (for instance, that disasters cannot be managed) were less well-rooted. Despite years of refutation by experts, all groups firmly believed that dead bodies constitute a health hazard if they are not disposed of quickly. Attitudes to the proposition that technology offers a solution to the disaster problem were equivocal.

Conclusions:

Though the results of the study by no means were homogeneous, students and emergency workers, on either side of the Atlantic, bring many of the same misconceptions that the mass media continually propagates. These beliefs represent a serious challenge for the instructor who wants to ensure that disasters and emergencies are not misconstrued.

Keywords

disasterdisaster educationemergency managementmediamisconceptiontraining courses
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , April 2007 , pp. 95 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Larsson, G, Enander, A: Preparing for disaster: Public attitudes and actions. Disaster Prevention Managment 1997;6(1):11–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Brilly, M, Polic, M: Public perception of flood risks, flood forecasting and mitigation. Nat Haz Earth Sys Sci 2005;5(3):345–355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Associated Press: El Salvador buries quake victims, 15 January 2001. Available at http://highbeam.com/doc/1P1-39749331.html. Accessed 29 March 2007.Google Scholar
4. Kirschenbaum, A: Preparing for the inevitable: Environmental risk perceptions and disaster preparedness. Int J Mass Emer Disasters 2005;23(2):97–127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Couch, SR: The cultural scene of disasters: Conceptualizing the field of disasters and popular culture. Int J Mass Emer Disasters 2000;18(1):21–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Palm, R: Urban earthquake hazards: The impact of culture on perceived risk and response in the USA and Japan. Appl Geol 1998;18(1):35–46.Google Scholar
7. Bahk, CM, Neuwirth, K: Impact of movie depictions of volcanic disaster on risk perception and judgements. Int J Mass Emer Disasters 2000;18(1):63–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Mitchell, JT, Thomas, DSK, Hill, AA, Cutter, SL: Catastrophe in reel life versus real life: Perpetuating disaster myth through Hollywood films. Int J Mass Emer Disasters 2000;18(3):383–402.Google Scholar
9. Quarantelli, EL: Realities and mythologies in disaster films. Communications 1985;11:31–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Fischer, HW III : Response to Disaster: Fact Versus Fiction and its Perpetuation: The Sociology of Disaster. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1994.Google Scholar
11. Grendstad, G, Selle, P: Cultural myths of human and physical nature: Integrated or separated? Risk Anal 2000;20(1):27–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12. Arnold, JL: Disaster myths and Hurricane Katrina 2005: Can public officials and the media learn to provide responsible crisis communication during disasters? Prehosp Disast Med 2006;21(1):1–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Fischer, HW III, Drain, EM: Local offices of emergency preparedness (LEMA) belief in disaster mythology:What has changed and why? Disaster Prevention Management 1993;2(3):17–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Alley, E: The myths and realities of natural disasters. J Inst Civil Defence 1990;52(1):19–25.Google Scholar
15. Noji, EK, (ed.): The Public Health Consequences of Disasters. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997:pp 17–18.Google Scholar
16. Quarantelli EL: Reality and myth in community disasters. UNDRO News (Nov–Dec 1982):6–9.Google Scholar
17. Johnson, NR: Panic and the breakdown of social order: Popular myth, social theory, empirical evidence. Sociol Focus 1987;20(3):171–183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18. Scanlon, TJ: Post-disaster rumor chains: A case study. Mass Emerg 1977;2:121–126.Google Scholar
19. Wenger, DE, Dykes, JD, Sebok, TD, Neff, JL: It's a matter of myths: An empirical examination of individual insights into disaster response. Mass Emerg 1975;1:33–46.Google Scholar
20. Alexander, DE: Natural Disasters. London: Routledge; Boston: Springer. 1993:16–20.Google Scholar
21. Shaw, R, Shiwaku, K, Kobayashi, H, Kobayashi, M: Linking experience, education, perception and earthquake preparedness. Disaster Prevention Management 2004;13(1):39–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): Natural Disasters: Protecting the Public's Health. Washington DC: Pan American Health Organization, 2000.Google Scholar
23. Katrina Lessons Learned Review Group: The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned. Washington DC: The White House: p 40.Google Scholar
24. British Broadcasting Corporation News: “Fear Exceeded Crime's Reality in New Orleans”. Report, 29 Sep 2005. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk. Accessed 30 September 2005.Google Scholar
25. Quarantelli, EL: Looting and Antisocial Behavior in Disasters. Newark DE: Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, 1994.Google Scholar
26. Large, T: Experts say mass burials do more harm than good. Reuters Alertnet 30 Dec 2003. Available at http://www.alertnet.org. Accessed 03 January 2004.Google Scholar
27. Pan-American Health Organization: Epidemiological Surveillance After Natural Disaster. Scientific Publication 420. Washington DC: Pan American Health Organization, 1982.Google Scholar
28. de Ville de Goyet, C. Epidemics caused by dead bodies: A disaster myth that does not want to die. Pan Amer J Pub Health 2004;15:297–299.Google Scholar
29. Floret, N, Viel, JF, Mauny, F, Hoen, B, Piarroux, R: Negligible risk for epidemics after geophysical disasters. Emerg Infect Diseases 2006;12(4):543–548.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30. Paulozzi, LJ: Great myths in disaster relief: Epidemics. J Environ Health 1980;43(3):140–143.Google Scholar
31. de Ville de Goyet, C: Stop propagating disaster myths. Prehosp Disast Med 1999:14(1):9–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32. Fritz, CE: Convergence Behavior in Disasters: A Problem in Social Control. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, 1957.Google Scholar
33. Goltz, JD: Are the news media responsible for the disaster myths? A content analysis of emergency response imagery. Int J Mass Emerg Disasters 1984;2(3):345–368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34. Drabek, TE: Human System Response to Disaster: An Inventory of Sociological Findings. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1986.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35. Quarantelli, EL (ed): What is a Disaster? Perspectives on the Question. London: Routledge, 1998.Google Scholar
36. Perry, RW, Quarantelli, EL (eds): What is a Disaster? New Answers to Old Questions. Philadelphia: Xlibris, 2005.Google Scholar
37. Alexander, DE: Confronting Catastrophe: New Perspectives on Natural Disasters. Harpenden, UK: Terra Publishing; New York: Oxford University Press, 2000:137–171.Google Scholar
38. Page, RA, Blume, JA, Joyner, WB: Earthquake shaking and damage to buildings. Sci 1975;189:601–608.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39. , Alexander 1993; op cit:16–20.Google Scholar
40. cf. Jennings-Sanders, A, Frisch, N, Wing, S: Nursing students' perceptions about disaster nursing. Disaster Management Response 2005;3(3):80–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
41. Smith-Cumberland, TL, Feldman, RH: Survey of EMTs' attitudes towards death. Prehosp Disast Med 2005;20(3):184–188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
42. , Alexander, 2000; op. cit.:1–2.Google Scholar
43. Brislin, RW: Cross-Xultural Research Methods: Strategies, Problems, Applications. In: Altman, I, Rapoport, A, Wohwill, JF (eds): Human Behavior and Environment, Vol. 4, Environment and Culture. New York: Plenum, 1980:47–82.Google Scholar
44. Ploughman, P: The American print news media “construction” of five natural disasters. Disasters 1995;19(4):308–326.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
45. Fothergill, A: Knowledge transfer between researchers and practitioners. Nat Hazards Rev 2000;1(2):91–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
45. Gori, PL: Communication between scientists and practitioners: The important link in knowledge utilization. Earthquake Spectra 1991;7(1):89–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar