Twisters in Two Cities: Structural Ritualization Theory and Disasters

Abstract

The sociological study of disaster has increased in methodological and conceptual complexity since its inception, but despite this progress there persists a need for further theoretical development in order to advance understanding of disasters. To address this need, this work applied structural ritualization theory to two prominent tornado disasters to uncover new ways to conceptualize and study disaster processes. Structural ritualization theory (SRT) emphasizes the importance of ritual in providing order, value, direction, and cohesion - among other things - to individuals and groups. Rituals are defined as ritualized symbolic practices, which are schema driven action repertoires with symbolic and emotional meaning. One line of research within SRT examines the effects of disturbances to performances of RSPs, which are framed as patterns of disruption, deritualization, and reritualization. This model was applied to the cases of the May 22, 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, and the May 20, 2013 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. Qualitative content analysis was utilized on 1,793 news media articles from local and regional outlets covering each tornado for periods of three months following each event. Patterns of disruption, deritualization, and reritualization were identified in each community throughout the sampling window. Implications for SRT as an alternative disaster framework, empirical and conceptual contributions to SRT as a perspective, as well as potential for synthesizing this framework into existing lines of inquiry in disaster literature were also identified.