Looting and Antisocial Behavior in Disasters
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Disaster Research Center
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Does looting (the stealing of goods) and other antisocial behaviors (such as violent crimes) occur in disasters? A widespread belief exists that such behaviors are common in the emergency time periods of community crises created by natural and technological disasters. However, extensive social science research undertaken since the end of World War II lends little support to such a supposition. During the emergency period of disasters, these behaviors are rare, at least in Western type societies, that is, highly urbanized and industrialized developed countries. The belief in their common occurrences is part of what researchers call “disaster myths.”