Generating Subjective Theories After a Disaster: The Role of Personality Generación de teorías subjetivas después de un desastre: el papel de la personalidad Geração de teorias subjetivas após um desastre: o papel da personalidade
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2021
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The role of people's beliefs in their perception of disasters has been scarcely studied. In this study, we analyzed how people who experienced an earthquake and a subsequent tsunami employ subjective theories (ST) to explain their traumatic experience. This study aimed to interpret the explanations developed by a group of people about the earthquake and tsunami that took place in Chile in 2015. Thirteen episodic interviews were conducted as part of a qualitative case study. The participants' theories were grouped into four categories: the impact of personality on one's reaction to hardships; the existence of a link between personality and coping styles; the limited influence of personality on one's way of coping with difficulties; and changes in personality after experiencing hardships. These findings are discussed analyzing whether the participants' explanations could foster personal growth and psychological well-being after the catastrophe.
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González Palta, I., Castro-Carrasco, P., Cabrera, E., Jamet, P. & Leal-Soto, F. (2021). Generating Subjective Theories After a Disaster: The Role of Personality. Revista Colombiana de Psicología, 30(2), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v30n2.79061