Status and power differentials in the generation of fear in three California earthquakes

Natural hazards, particularly those that occur without warning are likely to generate fear in those in or near the area affected. While the expression of fear and other emotions are ubiquitous in a disaster situation, they are not universal nor are they uniform in intensity of expression. In this study, three California earthquakes will be the focus for a comparative analysis of survey findings that attempt to measure the expression and intensity of fear during the ground motion generated by these earthquakes. Though now occupying historic status, two of the three earthquakes examined in this study remain the most recent earthquake disasters to impact northern and southern California. The study is informed by the literature on the Sociology of Emotions and will test a theory by Theodore Kemper that associates emotional expression with status and power differentials in society. The results provide support for Kemper's theory though there are significant determinants of fear that are not explained by the status and power theory of emotions. These factors, largely situational, merit further study and indicate that more comprehensive theories of emotion generation and expression are needed. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.