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Community‐Level Social Support Responses in a Slow‐Motion Technological Disaster: The Case of Libby, Montana
Author(s) -
Cline Rebecca J. W.,
Orom Heather,
Berry-Bobovski Lisa,
Hernandez Tanis,
Black C. Brad,
Schwartz Ann G.,
Ruckdeschel John C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/s10464-010-9329-6
Subject(s) - disaster research , normative , natural disaster , context (archaeology) , community organization , social support , social environment , sociology , psychology , political science , criminology , social psychology , geography , public relations , social science , law , archaeology , meteorology
Social support is an important resource for communities experiencing disasters. However, a disaster's nature (rapid‐ versus slow‐onset, natural versus technological) may influence community‐level responses. Disaster research on social support focuses primarily on rapid‐onset natural disasters and, to a lesser extent, rapid‐onset technological disasters. Little research has addressed slow‐onset disasters. This study explores social support processes in Libby, MT, a community experiencing a “slow‐motion technological disaster” due to widespread amphibole asbestos exposure. A comprehensive social support coding system was applied to focus‐group and in‐depth‐interview transcripts. Results reveal that, although the community has a history of normative supportiveness during community and individual crises, that norm has been violated in the asbestos disaster context. Results are interpreted as a failure to achieve an “emergent altruistic community.” Specifically, community‐level conflict appears to interfere with previously established social support patterns. The observed phenomenon can be understood as the deterioration of a previously supportive community.