Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc.1 Psychological Impact and Risk Communication...
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Transcript of Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc.1 Psychological Impact and Risk Communication...
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 1
Psychological Impact and
Risk Communicati
onScientific Advice, Crisis
Management and the MediaHotel Grand Bretagne
Athens, Greece9–10 June 2003
Michael J. Hopmeier, MSMEChief, Innovative and Unconventional
ConceptsUnconventional Concepts, Inc.
COL Boaz TadmorIsrael Defense Forces
Dr. Zohar RubinsteinTel Aviv University
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 2
World Trade Centers
Towers 1 and 2
New York City
September 11, 2001
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 4
Psychological Definitions of Crisis/Disaster Situations
An external situation which presents a threat to a person or his/her relatives, interrupts the functional, cognitive and historical continuance amongst individuals, families, groups and the community.
—Home Front CommandIsrael Defense Forces
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 5
Orson Wells’ 1938 radio broadcast “War of the Worlds” resulted in pandemonium and paranoia
Coverage of recent terrorist events reveals that the media must strike a balance between informing the public and not contributing to psychological trauma
Psychological Trauma and Communication:Brief Overview
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 6
PTSD and the Effectsof Traumatic TV Images
Study by Ahern et al. (2002) found that people who were directly affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks and who viewed disturbing TV images >7 times were 7 times more likely to develop PTSD
The same study found that 3.6% who were not directly affected by the attacks still developed PTSD from repeatedly watching disturbing TV images
Previous studies with children with direct involvement in the Oklahoma City bombing and Gulf War suggest a causal link between PTSD and watching violent images of events on TV
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 7
The Public Wants to “Do Something” Although duct tape defense provides minimal
physical protection, there is something to be said for the sense of psychological comfort created by having “done something” to prepare for a potential attack
However, a recent Harvard study found that 73% were aware of the posted high alert level (orange) but only 12% had developed an evacuation plan
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 9
Before the 2003 Iraq War
Israel Defense Forces Distributed protective kits (including gas
masks) to the entire Israeli population Informed the public how to create protected
and sealed spaces in dwellings Created an efficient medicine distribution
system and a nationwide alarm system
Home Front Command Launched an information campaign to educate
the public on what to expect and how to cope
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 10
Israeli Public Response
In spite of everything, as recently as 1 week before the outbreak of hostilities, compliance with safety directives was as low as 60%
The psychological impact of seeing the war progress and the nation’s emotional response (as measured by numerous polls) correlated almost perfectly
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 11
Communication andPsychological Impact
There is unquestionably a link Over 2,000 studies in the past 30 years on
children and exposure to TV violence find an increase in aggressive behavior
The long-term negative psychological effects of the media and disasters can be mitigated, but only with proper preparation
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 12
Anticipate what the audience wants to hear to allay fears Hurricane George in Puerto Rico in 1998
was an example of excellent communication with a constant flow of updated, accurate information
Communication clearly addressed the audience’s main concern: the hurricane’s impact on tourism, one of the island’s main industries
Mitigation
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 16
Anthrax Scare
Negative psychological effects—fear and paranoia—are more damaging than anthrax
In April 1997, 17 employees at the B'nai Brith National Headquarters went to D.C.- area hospitals after feeling ill—tests later proved the substance they encountered was not anthrax
In fall 2001, 35 people in a Maryland subway reported nausea, sore throat, and headache after exposure to hoax “liquid anthrax” —window-cleaning fluid
“But in my opinion we need to protect the Americans not from anthrax, but from the feeling of fear... I'm serious... Panic is even worse than the disease." —Benjamin Cherkassky, a senior scientist at Moscow's Central Institute of Epidemiology
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 17
Anthrax Scare—Lessons Learned
Decisions had to be made rapidly in the absence of data
Access to subject matter experts was limited No “textbook” experience to guide a response Understanding of “risk” evolved as outbreak
unfolded Exaggerated or ambiguous risk assessment creates
elevated fear and establishes a sense of distrust among the public for future warnings
Advising the public not to panic induces the opposite response
Need a coherent, rapid process for addressing scientific issues in the midst of a crisis
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 18
Communication It is both information and education! It works both ways: to and from leadership
The principal source of intelligence and real-time planning information is the media!
The public depends on the media to provide background and guidance on how to react
It is vital both before and after an incident It prepares the public so they understand
what is happening It gives them instruction on how to respond to
what is happening
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 19
“Principles for Intervention amongst Disaster Stricken
Population” “’Help them help themselves’—Create a
feeling of competence “Create minimal dependence on formal and
external assistance “Channel the negative responses to positive
action “What appears as panic stricken civilians is
nothing other than unorganized activity, which can be organized”
—Home Front CommandIsrael Defense Forces
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 20
“Principles for Intervention amongst Disaster Stricken
Population” “Prevent or minimize secondary gains “Utilize the population as a resource “Secure initial success in order to build trust in
the community and authorities “Support the community with ongoing
information “What works in routine should work in an
emergency”—Home Front Command
Israel Defense Forces
Presentation © 2003 Unconventional Concepts Inc. 21
Summary “Mob psychology” is the ruling factor We do not have enough resources to provide for
the public independently, so we must involve the public in its own protection
To do this, the members of the public must know how to protect themselves and be confident that they can
Using the media to educate people and quell their fears is the only practical way this can be done
Media should be considered on par with fire, police, and emergency medical personnel
The media can be your enemy if you work with them--they will be if you don’t!