Comments on Conceptual Disasters about Disasters

Abstract

Large scale projects that are longitudinal, epidemiological, and outcome-oriented are vitally needed to provide the information needed to prevent behavioral and emotional breakdowns in the aftermath of disaster. Additionally, priority should be given to clearer descriptions of the actual behavior of victims and intervenors, as distinguished from theorizing. Unproven psychoanalytic constructs and the language of the medical model have perhaps been used too widely and uncritically.