Travel Chaos - how do we cope?
Wednesday 22 December 2010
People who have endured days and nights stuck at airports due the travel chaos caused by the snow go through similar emotions to being told they have a serious illness: denial, uncertainty and worry.
When volcanic ash closed much of European airspace in April this year, researchers at the University of Surrey spoke to many people who had been affected, and their conclusions are just as relevant for the snow-trapped Christmas travellers
In response to news reports of major disruption, denial is often the first response.
“We could say that some of the people who have set out for the airport, or Eurotunnel, this week, are in denial. Perhaps they’re thinking ‘It will be ok. I’ve made my plans. It won’t be that bad’”, commented Niamh Murtagh, lead researcher.
“But we know this is a psychological process that kicks in when we’re faced with a crisis. Whether it’s being told the airports are closed or that they have a serious disease, people tend to react by first denying the reality or the seriousness of the problem. “It’s not affecting Heathrow” or “It’s all just something temporary like a strike” were initial thoughts from people caught up in the travel problems in April.
A ‘this-will-not-affect-me’ approach can actually be a productive way of reacting to news of risks and hazards in general. There are many risks in everyday life and we cannot pay attention to them all. So thinking ‘this won’t affect me’ can be a way of avoiding unnecessary stress and anxiety.
However, although this approach works pretty well most of the time, it can stop us realising the seriousness of some situations early enough to do something about them.
Most people then gradually begin to accept that there is a problem that must be faced. For some, there will be strong emotions: tears or anger are common. But the more constructive response is to look for ways to resolve the situation. And interestingly, this helps us to deal with the stress.
The uncertainty of travel disruption is a large part of that stress and what people found most difficult when their plans were disrupted by the volcanic ash.
Brenda, whose husband is Italian, is looking forward to a relaxed Christmas this year. “We remembered how bad our travel experience was last Christmas, so this year, we visited family in Italy early in December so that we can avoid all that hassle”.
In terms of coping with adversity, Brenda has it covered: she has learned from previous experience that her plans may be affected and she has planned ahead to minimise the risk. And she will be sitting in the comfort of her own home, rather than sleeping on an airport floor. So perhaps the best way of coping is thinking ahead and acknowledging that travel plans are always at risk of disruption, from snow, volcanic ash, strikes or a host of other factors. But this is not new: after all, the Three Wise Men travelled for many months but arrived twelve days late for the birth of Jesus.
Research team: Dr Niamh Murtagh, Sarka Zahradnikova, Jemima Pope-Brien, Dr Birgitta Gatersleben, Prof David Uzzell at the Environmental Psychology Research Group, University of Surrey.
Media Enquiries
Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 686141, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
