Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
Human Relations
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (3)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stein, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

The critical period of disasters: Insights from sense-making and psychoanalytic theory

Mark Stein

m.k.stein{at}reading.ac.uk

The purpose of this article is to deepen our understanding of the period during which a disaster unfolds, here called the ‘critical period’. Previous research has shown cases in which sense-making is essential for survival during this period, but it is argued here that there are other cases in which sense-making compounds the problems. Drawing on psychoanalytic theory, the capacity for anxiety toleration is postulated as a moderating variable that influences whether correct sense can be made of the situation, and, in turn, whether the likelihood of survival will increase. Implications for theory are examined.

Key Words: anxiety • critical period • disaster • psychoanalysis • sense-making

Human Relations, Vol. 57, No. 10, 1243-1261 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0018726704048354


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Human RelationsHome page
E. H. Powley
Reclaiming resilience and safety: Resilience activation in the critical period of crisis
Human Relations, September 1, 2009; 62(9): 1289 - 1326.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Human RelationsHome page
A. D. Brown, P. Stacey, and J. Nandhakumar
Making sense of sensemaking narratives
Human Relations, August 1, 2008; 61(8): 1035 - 1062.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
LeadershipHome page
K. Grint
Learning to Lead: Can Aristotle Help Us Find the Road to Wisdom?
Leadership, May 1, 2007; 3(2): 231 - 246.
[PDF]


Home page
Human RelationsHome page
Emerald Management Reviews: Citations of Excellence 'top fifty' for 2004
Human Relations, August 1, 2005; 58(8): 1083 - 1083.
[PDF]