The Social Science Study of Disasters and Mass Communication

Abstract

This chapter discusses a brief history of the early social and behavioral science disaster studies both in the United States and elsewhere. It presents a summary of some of the more important general themes that have emerged from the numerous studies on all kinds of disaster phenomena. A substantive listing of the specific studies undertaken indicates something of the quantity and topical focus of the past and work on mass communications in disasters. The chapter focuses on major themes in the research findings and observations up to the time about mass communication behavior in disasters. The chapter deals with a partial agenda for future research on mass communication activities in disasters. It focuses on the human, social, group, and organization aspects of mass communication mediated through mass media at times of disasters. There has clearly been an acceleration of empirical research on mass communications in disasters in recent years.

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