Causal Loop Diagram Analysis of Human Behavior Patterns in Catastrophic Disasters

Risks during disasters are often managed through rational actions; however, people frequently rely on instincts and intuition to navigate them. Extreme fear can lead to panic and irrational actions, such as blindly following the behavior of others. Conversely, individuals with strong altruism and a willingness to share others’ risks, as well as robust risk-aversion skills are more likely to exhibit heroic behavior. Even for heroic individuals, altruism has its limits, and actions that lack legitimacy and trust are difficult to sustain. This study integrates theoretical research on human behavior during disasters and examines five representative behavior types using Causal Loop Diagram analysis. This research synthesizes early studies in this field and offers a deeper understanding of irrational behaviors at disaster sites by highlighting complex links to human behavior. Furthermore, fostering a deeper understanding of human behavior types in disaster education is expected to significantly enhance the overall effectiveness of both education and training programs.