Understanding the depersonalisation process in post-disaster sites

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper explores the phenomenon of depersonalisation at post-disaster sites, a process of particular relevance to types of prosocial and group behaviour that are a desirable outcome from what might otherwise be a negative or distressing experience. To better understand the depersonalisation process, this study applies Self-Categorisation Theory to a post-disaster tourism site. Using personal pronouns and specific identities as markers, we explore the cognitive processing of visitors’ experience by analysing online comments posted after visiting one of two disaster sites: the Beichuan earthquake relics and the Yingxiu earthquake relics in China. The analysis revealed that three levels of self-categorisation were evident in visitors’ experience of disaster sites; particularly depersonalisation was uncovered through (i) ‘human being’, ‘China and/or Chinese’ statements, (ii) ‘we’, ‘they’ and ‘you’ statements, and (iii) individualisation through ‘I’ statements. As the theory predicted, depersonalising statements tended to be other-focused and co-occurred with the awareness of group prototype, collective action, positive in-group attitude and cohesion, ethnocentrism, and shared norms. This is the first paper to examine the depersonalising tourist experience in a dark tourism context and to explore its process and effects. Findings have implications for tourist experience design and the interpretation of post-disaster dark tourism sites.