Cross-cultural differences in risk perceptions of disasters.

Public risk perceptions of mass disasters carry considerable influences, both psychologically and economically, despite their oft-times imprecise nature. Prior research has identified the presence of an optimistic bias that affects risk perception, but there is a dearth of literature examining how these perceptions differ among cultures-particularly with regard to mass disasters. The present study explores differences among Japanese, Argentinean, and North American mental health workers in their rates of the optimistic bias in risk perceptions as contrasted between natural disasters and terrorist events. The results indicate a significant difference among cultures in levels of perceived risk that do not correspond to actual exposure rates. Japanese groups had the highest risk perceptions for both types of hazards and North Americans and Argentineans had the lowest risk perceptions for terrorism. Additionally, participants across all cultures rated risk to self as lower than risk to others (optimistic bias) across all disaster types. These findings suggest that cultural factors may have a greater influence on risk perception than social exposure, and that the belief that one is more immune to disasters compared to others may be a cross-cultural phenomenon.

The dirty dozen: twelve failures of the hurricane katrina response and how psychology can help.

This comprehensive analysis addresses the United States' alarming lack of preparedness to respond effectively to a massive disaster as evidenced by Hurricane Katrina. First, a timeline of problematic response events during and after Hurricane Katrina orients readers to some of the specific problems encountered at different levels of government. Second, a list of the "Dirty Dozen"--12 major failures that have occurred in prior disasters, which also contributed to inadequate response during and after Hurricane Katrina--is presented. Third, this article encourages expanding psychology's role beyond the treatment of trauma to encompass disaster planning and mitigation efforts from a broader public health perspective. Finally, areas for important interdisciplinary research in human behavior that will influence our nation's overall preparedness for future catastrophes are identified, and ways psychologists can become personally involved beyond treating casualties are discussed.

La evolución de un campo: examen del desarrollo y la aceptación de la Psicología Clínica de la Salud / The development of a field: examining the growth and acceptance of Clinical Health Psychology

La Psicología clínica de la salud ha recorrido un largo camino hasta convertirse en un campo respetado tanto en la psicologíacomo en todo el ámbito médico. Este trabajo examina el desarrollo de la psicología clínica de la salud en los Estados Unidos yen el mundo, y explora las actuales contribuciones que la psicología ha realizado para facilitar una mejor comprensión delpapel que tiene la conducta y los procesos psicológicos en la salud física y en el bienestar individual. Se examinan las intervencionesactuales, con base empírica, tales como el abandono del tabaco y el dolor crónico

Clinical health psychology has traveled a long road in becoming a respected field in both psychology as well as the medicalfield as a whole. This paper examines the growth of clinical health psychology in the United States and throughout the worldand it explores the current contributions clinical health psychology has made to facilitate a better understanding of the role ofbehavior and psychological processes in medical health and individual well being. Current empirically supported interventionssuch as smoking cessation interventions and chronic pain interventions are examined