1. Updates
04/27 Traumatic Events (Diary Reports Due) Emotional Broadcaster--omitted
05/09 Final Exam (11:45-2:45) Diary papers returned

2. Collective Coping
Class 25

3. Disasters What makes something a disaster? * Collective trauma
* What makes something traumatic?

4. Which of These are Traumatic?
Being slammed by 240 pound man.
Being scolded by 98 pound grandmother.
Why is the first NOT traumatic?
Why could the second be traumatic?
Because of the MEANING assigned to the event

5. Basic Beliefs / Fundamental Assumptions
The world is just
The world is orderly, not chaotic or random
One’s self is good and competent
Traumas are events that violate fundamental assumptions (aka "basic beliefs")
Do belief-violations really create emotions?

6. Schemas and Emotion Mighty tree that sheds acorns?
Soft drink, rival of Pepsi?
Very brief story with funny ending?
Gray/black fumes that arise from a fire?
The white part of an egg?
Oak
Coke
Joke
Smoke
Albumin

7. Major Events Challenge Basic Beliefs
The world is just [???]
The world is orderly, not chaotic or random [???]
One’s self is good and competent

8. The Loma Prieta Earthquake, CA 1989
Characteristics of Quake
7.1 on Richter scale
Duration: 15 seconds
Most intense seismic event since 1906 quake, which destroyed SF
Effects of Quake
Deaths =
Injured =
Displaced = 12,000
Damage = $6 billion

9. My Quake Survey Journey
SF to Oakland Ferry
Jack London Square
Office Worker's Survey request
Husband's survey request
What was going on?

10. Disclosure and Coping Schacter Anxiety and Affiliation Studies
a. Clarify causes of distress
b. Validates own emotions
Sympathetic Listening as Key to Social Support
a. Making sense of trauma
b. Perspective, insight
Failure to Disclose is a Health Risk
a. Suppression physically effortful
b. Prolonged suppression  chronic stress
c. Disclosure stops suppression, reduces illness

11. Health Benefits of Disclosure
Immediate Lowered heart rate
Lowered skin conductance
Reduced muscle tension
Long term health Fewer MD visits
Fewer symptoms
Stronger immune system
Long term coping Reduced depression, stress
higher grades, less absenteeism
Quicker re-employment after loss

12. Listening Isn’t Easy Contagion of Distress Holocaust survivors study
Victims disclose, bodies relax Students listen to stories, bodies show stress
Vicarious traumatization among therapists Nightmares, phobias, flashbacks
Avoidance of the supporter role
Pseudo-sympathetic responses
“When the going get tough, the tough get going” “It’s always darker before the dawn”
Outright rejection

13. Social Dilemma of Collective Coping
People simultaneously placed in two roles:
1. Seek out others for support
2. Sought out as a support source for others
AND
1. Telling your problem advances coping
2. Hearing others disclose is a stressor

14. Survey of Disaster Research from 1959 to 1989: A review of 73 published studies.
Gathered comparison group data: 27%
Gathered data no later than 2 weeks after event 25%
Gathered data two times after event 30%
Meet all the above criteria 0

15. Clues from New Jersey’s Invasion From Mars

16. Quake Study Survey Locations
Sacramento, CA
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Dallas, TX
SF: Ground zero
Sac: Near by, but no quake threat
LA: Far away, but has quake threat
Dallas: Far away, no quake threat

17. Timeline of Quake Study
Q WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK

18. Quake Study Method
Sample size: 789 residents (SF, Sac, S. Cal, Dallas)
Data gathering method:
Phone survey
Random digit dialing
Calls made 6:30 – 9:30, weeknights only
Survey lasts 10 minutes

19. Survey Content Communication: Thinking, talking, listening
Emotional reactions
Physical symptoms
Coping tactics: praying, joking, drinking

20. Rates of Talking and Thinking Following the Loma Prieta Earthquake: Bay Area Only

21. Why Weren’t Speaking During Weeks 3-6?
“Thank you for not sharing your earthquake experience with me”
T-shirts in Palo Alto during weeks 3-6 after the quake

22. Percent Reporting an Earthquake-Related Dream, SF vs. Other Locations

23. Percent Reporting an Argument with Family or Co-Workers During the Prior Week

24. Percentage Change in Aggravated Assaults From Year Before Quake to Year After Quake

25. Rates of Quake Related Joking

26. A need to be shaken and stirred?
“But deep in my heart I know not that a major disaster would be deliverance from my drab, wretched life – salvation from the old week-by-week, a chance for two-bit heroics blown up on the front page … . I’ve talked to others, and I’m not alone. Maybe we crave a chance to be stouthearted for once and have a real situation to cope with.”
Michael Hood, NPR Reporter
Commenting on minor quake in Seattle, WA
05/09/96

27. The Three Stage Model of Collective Coping

28. Persian Gulf War I 500000 US soldiers in harms way
Experts predict 1000s of US casualties
Fears of nuclear weapons, poison gas
Fears of terrorism at home
Yellow ribbons, prayer sessions
Media barrage of war-relate stories

29. Persian Gulf War Study
Survey nearly identical to that used in Quake Study
Participants contacted randomly
All participants were Dallas, TX residents
No “comparison sample” possible

30. Rates and Talking and Thinking Following the Persian Gulf War

31. Rates of Event-Related Dreaming, Following the Quake and Following the War

32. Rate of Increased Aggravated Assaults, Dallas, 1991 (War) vs
Rate of Increased Aggravated Assaults, Dallas, 1991 (War) vs (Pre-War)

33. Implications of Collective Coping Research
Coping appears to occur in a three-stage manner
Emergency
Inhibition
Recovery
Public safety should be on especial alert during inhibition stage
Emotions are negotiated events; we need to share the burden of disclosure and listening.