65.3
Consumption Behavior and Disaster Recovery: Insights From Eight Years In a Living Laboratory
Consumption Behavior and Disaster Recovery: Insights From Eight Years In a Living Laboratory
Saturday, July 19, 2014: 3:00 PM
Room: 419
Oral Presentation
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina came ashore along the United States Gulf Coast resulting in unprecedented damage and presenting long-term struggles for residents. Since that date, the region has been impacted by other natural disasters, most notably Hurricanes Rita and Isaac, resulting in a rich laboratory for investigating the impact of these large-scale, shared life events on various behaviors. Utilizing data collected over 8 years by several research teams[1] and drawing from extant research in marketing, sociology and psychology, this body of work investigates the short- and long-term effects of these natural disasters on consumers’ consumption behaviors and how these behaviors aid in the individual and community recovery process. Several themes are explored in this research. In addition to discussing methodological challenges and best practices when collecting timely information pre- and post-natural disaster, the role of consumer behavior as it relates to the various stages in the disaster recovery model is examined. Using data collected from 318 individuals, the role of consumption as a tool to regulate emotions is explored as a means to cope with an impending threat. Further, depth interviews and online surveying (n=448) conducted in the weeks and months after impact shed light on the collective stress and resulting positive and negative consumption behaviors and attitudes (i.e., impulsive and compulsive buying and evolving views of possession). Follow-up surveying (n=176) four years after a natural disaster illuminates the role of consumption behaviors in restoration, reconstruction and recovery. The ethical and social responsibility implications for public policy makers are discussed along with future opportunities for social science researchers.
[1] Dr. Julie Sneath (University of South Alabama), Dr. Russell Lacey (Xavier University), and Drs. Elyria Kemp and Kim Williams (both of the University of New Orleans).