Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A literatura científica reporta a dificuldade em lidar de forma adaptativa com ataques terroristas, dado serem inesperados, frequentemente extremos e potencialmente stressantes. Torna-se assim premente compreender como os cidadãos avaliam (appraisal) estes eventos, dado que isso determina a forma como respondem adaptativamente (coping) a estes. Para este fim, esta investigação implementou uma abordagem multi-método qualitativa-quantitativa, focada em indicadores dos recursos que os indivíduos avaliam ter (e.g. suporte social) para lidar com as exigências induzidas por ataques terroristas, bem como o impacto psicológico percebido destes, baseada em dois estudos: Estudo 1 - extração de mensagens do twitter para análise de indicadores qualitativos de perceção de desvio face ao “normal” e avaliação de recursos/exigências durante os ataques de 13/11/2015 em Paris; Estudo 2 - questionário aplicado a 110 participantes, para análise de indicadores quantitativos de recursos e exigências percebidos como preditores de impacte percebido de eventos passados (retrospetivo) e futuros (prospetivo). Os resultados do estudo 1 identificaram menos indicadores de recursos (R) do que exigências (E), configurando uma avaliação global do ataque como uma ameaça (R<E), mais do que um desafio (R>E). No estudo 2, o impacto percebido de eventos passados e a perceção de risco (exigência) mostraram ser preditores positivos e o capital social estrutural (recurso) preditor negativo, do impacto estimado de eventos futuros. Os resultados salientam a necessidade do incremento do potencial adaptativo e resiliência dos cidadãos face a ataques terroristas futuros, para que estes sejam avaliados como um desafio e não uma ameaça.
The scientific literature reports the difficulty in coping adaptively with terrorist attacks, due to them being unexpected, frequently extreme and potentially stressful. Thus, it is imperative to explore how citizens evaluate (appraisal) given that this determines how they cope adaptively to these. To this end, this research implemented a mixed methods qualitative-quantitative approach, focused on indicators individuals’ evaluation of the resources (e.g. social support) they evaluate as available to cope with the demands induced by terrorist attacks, as well as the perceived psychological impacts of these, based on two studies: Study 1 - twitter messages extraction for analysing qualitative indicators of perceived deviations from "normal" and evaluation of resources/demands, during the 11/13/2015 attacks in Paris; Study 2 - questionnaire application to 110 participants, for analysing quantitative indicators of perceived resources and demands as predictors of the perceived impact of past (retrospective) and future (prospective) events. Study 1 results identified fewer resource than demands indicators, configuring an overall event evaluation more as a threat (R<D), than as a challenge (R>D). Study 2 results identified the perceived impact of past events and perceived risk (demand) as positive predictors, and structural social capital (resource) as negative predictor, of the perceived impact of future events. These results make salient the need to increment citizens' adaptive potential and resilience in face of future terrorist attacks, so that these events may be evaluate as a challenge and not a threat.
The scientific literature reports the difficulty in coping adaptively with terrorist attacks, due to them being unexpected, frequently extreme and potentially stressful. Thus, it is imperative to explore how citizens evaluate (appraisal) given that this determines how they cope adaptively to these. To this end, this research implemented a mixed methods qualitative-quantitative approach, focused on indicators individuals’ evaluation of the resources (e.g. social support) they evaluate as available to cope with the demands induced by terrorist attacks, as well as the perceived psychological impacts of these, based on two studies: Study 1 - twitter messages extraction for analysing qualitative indicators of perceived deviations from "normal" and evaluation of resources/demands, during the 11/13/2015 attacks in Paris; Study 2 - questionnaire application to 110 participants, for analysing quantitative indicators of perceived resources and demands as predictors of the perceived impact of past (retrospective) and future (prospective) events. Study 1 results identified fewer resource than demands indicators, configuring an overall event evaluation more as a threat (R<D), than as a challenge (R>D). Study 2 results identified the perceived impact of past events and perceived risk (demand) as positive predictors, and structural social capital (resource) as negative predictor, of the perceived impact of future events. These results make salient the need to increment citizens' adaptive potential and resilience in face of future terrorist attacks, so that these events may be evaluate as a challenge and not a threat.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA- Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica.
Keywords
Terrorismo Stress Coping Appraisal Resiliência psicossocial Terrorism Psychosocial resilience.