Resilience in the Face of Disasters: Bridging Micro- and Macro-Perspectives

Abstract

This paper discusses the use of risk and resilience theory to understand how individuals and communities respond to natural disasters that present ongoing developmental challenges to personal and collective well-being. In the past two to three decades, mental health workers have developed numerous disaster relief strategies; while economists have become expert at estimating risk. These develops are explored.

KEYWORDS:

• Risk resilience
• macro-systems
• micro-systems

Notes

This article was originally presented at “Crisis as an Opportunity: Organizational and Professional Responses to Disaster,” Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Rutgers University School of Social Work, January 8, 2009.