The “Psychological Typhoon Eyeâ€
AÂ fascinating article on the psychological effects of being close to the epicenter of a disaster zone. From the article:
The “Psychological Typhoon Eye†describes an inverse relationship between the proximity of the victim to natural disaster devastation and their perceived health or safety risks. Essentially, if a person lives close to the center of the destruction, they are more likely to underestimate the public health risks associated with the aftermath of the natural disaster. The name has its origins in meteorology, referring to the eye of a typhoon, a region of calm weather at the center of a strong storm. A similar phenomenon has been reported in the literature regarding risk perception [3]; in France, those living closer to a nuclear reactor feel less anxiety about the potential danger while those living further away tended to be more apprehensive of the risk.
So, next time a disaster hits, snuggle up to it — you may not be any safer (OK, you’ll probably be less safe), but at least you’ll feel safer. And in the end, isn’t that what counts?
Senior Editor of Nature on Public Health’s Psychological Eye (via Haiti ReWired)