Social Psychology Perspective on Group Behavior After Disaster
Our research team is conducting the current project, which is funded by the ‘TÜBÄ°TAK 1001 - Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program.’ This project investigates the social psychological impacts of the February 6, 2023 earthquake in detail and is expected to span approximately three years.
While disasters such as earthquakes have devastating effects on individuals, they can also foster the creation of new social and community identities centered around common goals and challenges. The formation of these identities, along with the involvement of aid providers, enhances group-based empowerment and resilience.
The primary objective of this project is to examine the strategies employed by individuals affected by the earthquake to increase their visibility and secure support for their needs. The project also aims to explore how these strategies are related to the development and dissemination of shared identities. By investigating these processes, the project seeks to deepen our understanding of the well-being of both the affected populations and the groups providing assistance. Furthermore, the research aims to identify more effective approaches to emergency response.
In the research conducted for this project, the following data collection methods will be employed:
• Participant observation (ethnography)
• Individual interviews
• Surveys
In conclusion, from a social psychology perspective, our research aims to enhance understanding of the role of group-based processes and the formation of new identities in coping with the adverse effects of the earthquake. This will also provide valuable insights into the challenges of emergency management. The project’s findings will offer information that can be utilized by both individuals affected by the earthquake and key stakeholders, such as ministry personnel and civil society organization (CSO) workers."
Our research group aims to understand and explain the processes of aid and support that emerge during and after mass emergencies, from the perspectives of both those affected and the groups providing assistance.
To this aim, we plan to use ethnography, interviews, and scales to collect data from emergency sites.
on how to improve the quality aid services.
From the framework of social psychology, mass emergencies posit a social and political context. The current project is based on this perspective and investigates social and communal coping strategies.
Main Aim of the Project
Based on social identity theory, the main aim of the project is to understand how individuals affected by the disaster and supporting groups come together under a shared social identity to cope with the adverse effects of the earthquake
Supported by TUBITAK 1001: Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program, and entitled: “Social Psychology Case Study on Post-Disaster Group Behavior: February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaras Based Post-Earthquake Assistance and Solidarity Strategies”, the current project will investigate the processes of common identity formation among groups affected by the earthquake and those providing aid, the underlying motivations, and their effects on coping with negative experiences.
Our Sponsors
Organizations Supporting Our Project
