Living in a Social World
Psy 324: Advanced Social Psychology
Miami University

News from a Social Psychology Perspective

These materials may be used for research, study, and education, but please credit the authors and source.

In the Eye of the Storm:  Social Implications of Nature's Rampages -- Fall, 1999.  

The summer and fall of 1999 brought deadly reminders of the power of nature and the frailty of human efforts to contain and control that power.   Earthquakes devastated Turkey and Taiwan.   Hurricanes repeatedly hit islands in the Carribean and the East coast of the U.S.  Hurricane   Floyd triggered the largest evacuation in U.S. history.   Record drought brought devestation and hardship to some portions of the U.S., along with major fires from California to Indiana that threatened life and property.  As much as these events are environmental phenomena, they also have social psychological dimensions. For example, people's assessment of environmental risks relies on beliefs about locus of control and assumptions about their own personal vulnerability to negative events.  Coping with environmental hazards likewise involves personal stress, and often leads to social and political conflict over issues of culpability and responsibility.  

Back to Top
Back To Psy 324 Home Page
Back to PsyberSite

Social Psychology / Miami University (Ohio USA). Last revised: . This document has been accessed   times since 27 Sept 1999.  Comments & Questions to R. Sherman

Links2Go Social Psychology