Whether we like it or not, crises, disasters, and emergencies are a part of life.
They come when we least expect them and catch us off guard, leaving complete uncertainty in their wake.
Disasters and emergencies are different from personal crises, as they take an immense toll on the lives of a larger population.
They also create tremendous changes and complexities and can often alter human behavior.
People’s reactions following an emergency can often shape their ability to tackle the issue.
In many cases, mass hysteria only leads to the situation being exacerbated, whereas a calm, informed response makes it easy to control the damage.
Notably, emergencies come in various forms, such as earthquakes, fire, floods, hurricanes, or pandemics. Understanding why people act the way they do can help us control the impact of disasters on human life.
Below, we’ve listed some of the factors that influence individual behavior during various emergencies.
· Simplified information processing
The way people process information during an emergency is significantly different from the way they would do in a normal situation.
Whereas in a typical case, we may take our time to research the various nuances of a problem. Even the most rational amongst us can act hysterically during an emergency.
Under extreme stress, we lose our ability to focus on various facts simultaneously and can instead fixate on the points that seem most threatening.
Lastly, an information overload can cause many to shun health and safety measures entirely.
There is no better example of simplified information processing than the initial response of many to the pandemic. Many people began to shun SOP’s while others fell prey to conspiracy theories.
It’s vital to understand the factors that shape such responses so that healthcare personnel can deliver the most straightforward messages during an emergency.
Public health workers play a critical role in understanding what shapes responses. They are further responsible for developing the best strategies to inform and ensure compliance.
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· Fight or flight response
The fight or flight response is our biological programming in the face of a threatening situation. The fight or flight response has been around for millennia and has helped our ancestors survive through challenging conditions.
If you get chills during a stressful situation, feel that your heart is racing, and your stomach is clenching, you’re experiencing the fight or flight response. An immediate adrenaline rush causes these symptoms.
It is vital to understand this response and its effect on people who face physical danger in their jobs.
Law enforcement and military personnel commonly run on the fight or flight response, shaping much of their reactions in an emergency.
However, training can help these people cope with situations that cause anxiety and stress. It can further help them make informed decisions instead of being guided by their adrenaline response.
· Sticking to traditional belief systems
Crises often require people to do something that may seem counter-intuitive. For example, most of us feel safest in our homes.
However, during a hurricane or any other natural disaster, our homes might not be the safest places to stay.
Similarly, we feel that we have a better chance of healing if we have our loved ones around us to give us care and support.
However, in the emergencies like the pandemic, we sometimes have to do away with these traditional beliefs. It can be challenging for people to shun these tried and tested views.
Similarly, information from untrustworthy sources will only confuse them further.
This may explain why people are reluctant to adopt new safety measures in the wake of any emergency. However, information from a credible expert can help persuade people to take the necessary steps.
· Social norms influence behavior
Social norms play a vital role in shaping how people react to emergencies. Social norms define acceptable and unacceptable behaviors in a particular society.
They play a critical role in determining how perceptive people are to safety measures during any emergency.
Some social norms can worsen the impact of the disease and need to be curbed to prevent any further damage.
An example could be how, during the Ebola virus outbreak, African communities had to change their traditional burial rituals to prevent the spread.
The Ebola virus can survive on the body of a deceased human, and the social norm of washing the body before burials was leading to widespread infections.
Healthcare providers need to effectively communicate with people to understand how some social norms may do more harm than good during unfavorable situations.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the influences that we have during an emergency.
All disasters and emergencies are periods of uncertainty, and people may stick more vehemently to their traditional beliefs and norms.
However, effective communication and understanding can help shape a better response to protect everyone’s health and safety.