The article by Seyedin et al. (2019), titled “Intervention strategies for improvement of disasters risk perception: Family-centered approach,” discusses the various factors that affect disaster risk perception, including personal, psychological, socioeconomic, and cultural factors. Among cultural factors, what stood out to me was the mention of the so-called “protective spirit,” which is a motive found in many religions, ranging from tribal and local beliefs to larger confessions, such as Christianity or Islam.
The idea usually revolves around a protective place, symbol, relic, or practice that would ward off potential and existing disasters. The article states that the effects of religion and the concept of the “protective spirit” have a two-fold effect on the perception and response to the disaster (Seyedin et al., 2019). On the one hand, reassurances of divine protection reduce stress and panic levels, allowing for a more rational assessment of the situation (Seyedin et al., 2019). On the other hand, it may also push the populations into a false sense of security, preferring to stay at the protected place instead of evacuating (Seyedin et al., 2019). The article’s conclusions state that the influence of cultural phenomena requires additional study in the scope disaster risk perceptions in families.
In connection to the recent health disaster, which is the epidemic of COVID-19, the cultural idea of “protective spirits” have a negative, rather than a positive impact. The disease spreads in crowds and closed spaces, such as churches, mosques, and other places of worship (Weinberger-Litman et al., 2020). At the same time, these places are considered sacred and holy by the faithful, thus impervious to disease. Such a false sense of security has led to an increased number of people being infected in places of worship and spreading the disease to others (Weinberger-Litman et al., 2020).
References
Seyedin, H., Samadipour, E., & Salmani, I. (2019). Intervention strategies for improvement of disasters risk perception: Family-centered approach. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 8, 63.
Weinberger-Litman, S. L., Litman, L., Rosen, Z., Rosmarin, D. H., & Rosenzweig, C. (2020). A look at the first quarantined community in the USA: Response of religious communal organizations and implications for public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Religion and Health, 59(5), 2269-2282.