Users in crisis response and recovery: catharsis and social learning among social media users during and after a natural disaster. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goode, Sigi
• Is Part Of: Behaviour & information technology. Volume 42:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 123
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Social media -- social learning -- catharsis -- natural disaster; Electronic data processing -- Periodicals; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Periodicals; 303.4833
• DOI: 10.1080/0144929X.2021.2016968
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-929X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Prior research has shown the personal catharsis benefits of social media use as an outlet for emotional and cognitive problem solving, especially during a natural disaster. However, the mechanism for this problem-solving process has not been identified in prior literature. Using a theoretical lens derived from prior social psychology literature, we advance two theoretical explanations of catharsis, with competing outcomes. One explanation holds that catharsis arises from resolving personal problems with others. A second explanation holds that catharsis arises from disclosing feelings to others. Using data from 183 Twitter users, we test these two theories in two time periods: during a natural disaster, in the response period, and after the natural disaster, during the recovery period. We find significant differences in catharsis response between the two periods.