The National Resource Center on Advancing Emergency Preparedness for Culturally Diverse Communities
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Racial Identity–Related Differential Attributions of Inadequate Responses to Hurricane Katrina: A Social Identity Perspective

Author(s):Amy L. Ai; Carol Plummer; Grace Heo; Catherine M. Lemieux; Cassandra E. Simon; Patricia Taylor; Valire Carr Copeland
Available at:www.springerlink.com/content/n4268g5r131k4205/   (report broken link)
Description:

Abstract: This study examines the attribution of responsibility for the problematic response to Hurricane Katrina in the fall of 2005. Based on social identity theory, the study compared the attribution with racism and non-racism factors (situational vs. dispositional attributions) between African American and European American students (n = 505). As hypothesized, African American identity was related to greater racism attribution, even after controlling for demographics, faith factors, and cognitive-emotional reactions to the hurricanes. European American identity was associated with more executive-responsibility attributions, but the effect vanished after adjusting other factors. The study underscores the importance of acknowledging group identity rather than an overarching American identity in exploring the race effect after a national collective trauma. The consequential implications for disaster planning, future research investigation, and social service delivery are discussed

Language(s):English
Communities:General; Black or African American
Subtopic:
Phase 5 - Psychological Impact
Phase 6 - Response
Phase 7 - Recovery
Natural Disasters
Target Audience:Researchers
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Quantitative Study
Academic
Citation:

Ai, A., Plummer, C., Heo, G., Lemieux, C, Simon, C., Taylor, P., and Copeland, V. (2011). Racial Identity–Related Differential Attributions of Inadequate Responses to Hurricane Katrina: A Social Identity Perspective. Race and Social Problems.

Contact Info:

Amy Ai: amyai8@gmail.com

Patricia Taylor: ptaylor2@uh.edu