Local knowledge and practice in disaster relief: A worldwide cross-cultural comparison of coping mechanisms

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction Vol/Iss. 76 Elsevier Published In Pages: 1-11
By Pierro, Rachele, Ember, Carol R., Pitek, Emily, Skoggard, Ian

Abstract

The article discusses the importance of incorporating local knowledge and strategies into sustainable climate change adaptation. The authors examined 90 societies from the ethnographic record to document the coping mechanisms and contingency plans used by societies around the world in response to natural hazards. They classified coping mechanisms into four types: technological, subsistence, economic, and religious. The study finds that most societies employ multiple types of coping mechanisms and that technological coping mechanisms are most common in response to fast-onset hazards, while religious coping mechanisms are most common in response to slow-onset hazards. The study also finds that religious and nonreligious coping strategies are not mutually exclusive and are often used in conjunction with each other.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
eHRAF World CulturesResearchers' ownCoding for hazards and coping mechanisms
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)Researchers' own90 societies chosen with sufficient hazard information

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By:jacob.kalodner