The assumption that energy development causes social disruption in western communities is based on undocumented assertions, questionable interpretations of evidence, and superficial analyses. Theory used implicitly in research on western communities that are affected by energy development is inconsistent with the history of the region and with recent developments in community research. The literature provides suggestions for research, but improvements in theory and methodology will be needed if responsible contributions to energy development policy are to be made in this research.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AlbrechtS. L.1978“Socio-cultural factors and energy resource development in rural areas in the West.”J. of Environmental Management7 (July): 73–90.
2.
BernardJ.1973The Sociology of Community. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman.
3.
BreeseG.KlingemeierR. J.Jr.CahillH. P.Jr.WhelanJ. E.ChurchA. E.Jr.WhitemanD. E.1965The Impact of Large Installations on Nearby Areas: Accelerated Urban Growth. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
4.
BrennerM. H.1973Mental Illness and the Economy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.
5.
BrennerM. H.1979“Statement.” Hearing on Long-Term Implications of Current Budget and Economic Trends on Unemployment, Minority Business, and Education. Task Force on Human and Community Resources of the Committee on the Budget. U.S. House of Representatives, 96th Congress, First Session (July 20), pp. 17–41.
6.
BrookshireD. S.D'ArgeRalph C.1980“Adjustment issues of impacted communities or, are boomtowns bad?”Natural Resources J.20 (July): 523–546.
7.
CarnesS.FriesemaP.1974“Urbanization and the northern Great Plains.”Denver, Colorado, report to the Northern Great Plains Resources Program. (mimeo).
8.
CarrL. J.StermerJ. E.1952Willow Run: A Study of Industrialization and Cultural Inadequacy. New York: Arno Press.
9.
CedarT.SalasinJ.1979Research Directions for Rural Mental Health. McLean, VA: MITRE Corp.
10.
ChristiansenB.ClackT. H.Jr.1976“A western perspective on energy: A plea for rational energy planning.”Science194 (November): 578–584.
FlaxJ. W.WagenfeldM. O.EvansR. E.WeisR. J.1979Mental Health and Rural America: An Overview and Annotated Bibliography. Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Public Health Service.
15.
FosterR. B.1977State Responses to the Adverse Impacts of Energy Development in Wyoming. Report to the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration.
16.
FreudenburgW. R.1976“The social impact of energy boom development on rural communities: A review of literature and some predictions.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, August.
17.
FreudenburgW. R.1978“Toward ending the inattention: A report on social impacts and policy implications of energy boomtown development.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, February.
18.
FreudenburgW. R.1981“Women and men in an energy boomtown: Adjustment, alienation and adaptation.”Rural Sociology46 (Summer): 220–244.
19.
GilmoreJ. S.1976“Boom towns may hinder energy resource development.”Science191 February 13: 535–540.
20.
GilmoreJ. S.DuffM. K.1975Boom Town Growth Management: A Case Study of Rock Springs-Green River, Wyoming. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
21.
GoldR. L.1974“Social impacts of coal-related development in southeastern Montana.”Institute for Social Science Research, University of Montana (May). (mimeo).
22.
GoldR. L.1976“Trespass and other social impacts of northern Plains coal development.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, February.
23.
GouldL. C.1978“Social science research on ‘the energy boomtown’.”Social Science Energy Rev1 (Winter): 8–23.
24.
HenryA. F.ShortJ. F.Jr.1954Suicide and Homicide: Some Economic, Sociological and Psychological Aspects of Aggression. New York: Free Press.
25.
HumphreyC. R.KrannichR. S.1980“The promotion of growth in small urban places and its impact on population change, 1975–78.”Social Science Q.61 (December): 581–594.
26.
KaufmanH. F.1959“Toward an interactional conception of community.”Social Forces38 (October): 8–17.
KohrsE. V.1974“Social consequences of boom growth in Wyoming.” Presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern and Rocky Mountain Section, American Association for the Advancement of Science, April.
31.
KraenzelC. F.1955The Great Plains in Transition. Norman: Univ. of Oklahoma Press.
32.
KraenzelC. F.1980The Social Cost of Space in Yonland. Boseman, MT: Big Sky Books.
33.
LantzA.McKeownR. L.1977“Rapid growth and the impact on quality of life in rural communities: A case study.”Denver Research Institute, University of Denver, September. (mimeo).
34.
LantzA.SackettK.Halpern1980“Alcohol-related problems in rapidly growing communities”, pp. 71–83 in DavenportJ.IIIDavenportJ. A. (eds.) The Boom Town: Problems and Promises in the Energy Vortex. Laramie: Department of Social Work, University of Wyoming.
35.
LittleR. L.1977“Some social consequences of boom towns.”North Dakota Law Rev.53, 3: 401–425.
36.
LuloffA. E.WilkinsonK. P.1979“Participation in the national flood insurance program: A study of community activeness.”Rural Sociology44 (Spring): 137–152.
MartinW. T.1968“Theories of variation in the suicide rate”, pp. 74–96 in GibbsJ. P. (Ed.) Suicide. New York: Harper & Row.
39.
MasseyG.1980“Critical dimensions in urban life: Energy extraction and community collapse in Wyoming.”Urban Life9 (July): 187–199.
40.
McAllisterR. J.ButlerE. W.KaiserE. J.1973“The adaptation of women to residential mobility.”J. of Marriage and the Family35 (May): 197–204.
41.
McDonaldT. D.1976“The criminal justice system”, pp. 58–94 in SchrinerE. C.QueryJ. N.McDonaldT. D.KeoghF.GallagherT., An Assessment of the Social Impacts Associated with a Coal Gasification Complex Proposed for Dunn County, North Dakota: Report to the Natural Pipeline Company of America. Fargo: Department of Sociology/Anthropology, North Dakota State University.
42.
MurdockS. H.LeistritzF. L.1979Energy Development in the Western United States: Impact on Rural Areas. New York: Praeger.
43.
MurdockS. H.SchrinerE. C.1978“Structural and distributional factors in community development.”Rural Sociology43 (Fall): 426–449.
44.
MurdockS. H.SchrinerE. C.1979“Community service satisfaction and stages of community development: An examination of evidence from impacted communities.”J. of the Community Development Society10 (Spring): 109–124.
45.
NellisL.1974“What does energy development mean for Wyoming?”Human Organization33 (Fall): 229–238.
46.
O'HareM.StinsonD. S.1977“Fair compensation and the boomtown problem.” Unpublished manuscript.
47.
PangH.HansonS. M.1968“Highest divorce rates in western United States.”Sociology and Social Research52 (January): 228–236.
48.
RabkinJ. G.StueningE. L.1976“Life events, stress and illness.”Science194 (December): 1013–1020.
49.
SimmelG.1950“The metropolis and mental life”, pp. 409–424 in WolffK. H. (ed. and trans.) The Sociology of Georg Simmel. New York: Free Press.
50.
SorokinP.ZimmermanC. C.1929Principles of Rural-Urban Sociology. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
51.
SroleL.1972“Urbanization and mental health: Some reformulations.”Amer. Scientist60 (September-October): 576–583.
52.
ThompsonJ. G.1979“The Gillette syndrome: Myth or reality.”Wyoming Issues2 (Spring): 30–35.
53.
ThompsonJ. G.BlevinsA. L.Jr.WattsG. L.1979Socioeconomic Longitudinal Monitoring Project. Final Report. Volume 1—Summary. Laramie: Center for Urban and Regional Analysis, University of Wyoming.
54.
ThompsonJ. G.WilkinsonK. P.OstreshL. M.ReynoldsR. R.Jr.1980“Social disruption and rapid community growth: An explication of the ‘boomtown’ hypotheses.” Presented at the annual meeting of the Rural Sociological Society, August.
55.
TillyC.1974“Do communities act?” pp. 209–240 in EffratM. P. (ed.) The Community: Approaches and Applications. New York: Free Press.
WaltonJ.1967“The vertical axis of community organization and the structure of power.”(Southwestern) Social Science Q.48 (December): 353–368.
58.
WarrenR. L.1978The Community in America. Chicago: Rand McNally.
59.
WellmanB.LeightonB.1979“Networks, neighborhoods and communities: Approaches to the study of the community question.”Urban Affairs Q.14 (March): 363–390.
60.
WilkinsonK. P.1970“The community as a social field.”Social Forces48 (March): 311–322.
61.
WilkinsonK. P.1979“Social well-being and community.”J. of the Community Development Society10 (Spring): 5–16.
62.
WirthL.1938“Urbanism as a way of life.”Amer. J. of Sociology44 (July): 1–24.
63.
WeiszR.1979“Stress and mental health in a boom town”, pp. 31–47 in DavenportJ. A.DavenportJ.III (eds.) Boom Towns and Human Services. Laramie: Department of Social Work, University of Wyoming.
64.
YingerJ.1965Toward a Field Theory of Behavior: Personality and Social Structure. New York: McGraw-Hill.
