Читать книгу Theorizing Crisis Communication - Timothy L. Sellnow - Страница 18

Theory and theory building are expressions of our natural inquisitiveness and creativity. Humans have an instinctive drive to explain and understand; in this sense we are all theory builders and users. People who have experienced a crisis often feel an intense need to ensure that such an event never happens again. Explanation and understanding are part of that process. Interestingly, communication of the experience or sharing the story of the crisis is often part of the process. These stories help others learn and make sense of the event. Crises, however, are anomalous events and generate high levels of uncertainty about what is happening, why, and what should be done. Theory is particularly appropriate in these contexts for informing decisions and actions. Beyond this, however, theory helps build a more comprehensive understanding of crises: how they develop, what role they play, and how they can be managed.