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

Hypotheses (13)

HypothesisSupported
A variety of different coping mechanisms are used to deal with natural hazards.Supported
More societally complex societies will have more coping mechanisms.Largely not supported
More societally complex societies have more religious coping mechanisms.Supported
More societally complex societies have more technological coping mechanisms.Supported
Intensive agriculturalists will have more coping mechanisms for dealing with natural hazards than hunter-gatherers.Supported
Hunter gatherers have fewer religious coping mechanisms than intensive agriculturalists.Supported
Hunter gatherers have fewer technological coping mechanisms than intensive agriculturalists.Supported
Hunter gatherers have fewer economic coping mechanisms than intensive agriculturalists.Supported
Fast-onset hazards are associated with technological coping mechanisms.Supported
Slow-onset hazards are associated with religious coping mechanisms.Supported
Religious coping mechanisms do not detract from practical coping mechanisms.Supported
Migration as a coping mechanism is associated with more overall coping mechanisms.Supported
Slow-onset hazards are more associated with erosive coping mechanisms than fast-onset hazards.Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: jacob.kalodner