As a UX designer, I understand the importance of user-centric design—prepping involves planning for user needs in extreme scenarios, akin to designing for worst-case scenarios in UX! 🛠️
Activities of “prepping” tend to revolve around the six core needs of medicine, security, shelter, nutrition, hydration, and hygiene.[6]
preppers may perceive the current structure of society to be a landscape of risk in which the institutions that control access to energy, food, healthcare, shelter, water and waste disposal are associated with risks related to nuclear fallout, toxic pollution, climate change, resource depletion, and potential ecological collapse.
no longer seemed like a wild idea, but rather an intelligent way to prepare for uncertainty that may lie ahead.
the average new home purchase had shifted an additional 3 miles away from urban centers, though some analysts believe that urban flight may be temporary.[12,13
research conducted in Denmark and the US indicates that those who had an interest in prepping were better-equipped psychologically, during the pandemic.[16
popularity of shows like The Walking Dead and video games like Fallout 4.[17]
the best chances of survival are through democratic, interracial neighbors selflessly helping each other.[18
Dr. Troy Rondinone, historian of American culture, states these stories also provided narratives of hope by showing that the best chances of survival are through democratic, interracial neighbors selflessly helping each other.[18
during the COVID-19 pandemic, those who had engaged with thematically-relevant media (such as pandemic-related media and horror films) demonstrated greater psychological resilience and preparedness.
“trait morbid curiosity” and exposure to frightening fiction may give audiences the opportunity to practice effective coping strategies and results in positive resilience.[20]
When agriculture was being developed, food storage served as a form of risk management that protected against crop failure.[
To preserve food for winter, humans learned the art of shucking, shelling, boiling, blanching, and canning which gave humanity the benefits of reducing food waste, improving nutrition, and increasing leisure time.[23
Similarly, in Jordan, evidence gathered from a 19,000-year-old archaeological site showed evidence of gazelle meat being smoked and dried for preservation.
prehistoric West Africa used clay pots to assist in the processing and storing of plants 10,000 years ago.[27]
During the Roman Empire, food storage was so advanced that Aelius Aristides, a second century grammarian, described it as the warehouse of the world since Roman consumers not only had access to food from different regions, but they were available year-round.[
In Ireland, hundreds of butter cakes have been found (one dating back as early as 5,000 years ago) in peat bogs which prevented the growth of bacteria and decomposition.[30
Considering the long global history of humans storing food to avert shortages, it may not be that unusual that modern humans today have the instincts to engage in a similar behavior.
emergency preparedness requires a focus on long-term strategies, it tends to be adapted by those with a slower life history; those with a faster life history may experience greater fear of future disasters.
it may be easier for a person to express that they would be fearful of how people would behave in an apocalyptic world than to say that they distrust people.[
“Is prepping a psychologically healthy behavior?” Mills (2019) presents an understanding that prepping is a response generated by general anxiety about a variety of potential disasters in the future, which are fueled by reports and government warnings in mainstream media.[49] However, fieldwork interviewing preppers found that the majority of concerns were non-apocalyptic and focused instead on temporary disasters.[50] In terms of existential psychology, prepping thoughts and behavior may be an outlet for processing feelings of uncertainty.[
Psychologist Marty Nemko recommends avoiding hoarding, but stocking enough supplies to last a month, then supplementing them with smaller purchases as needed.[55
He recommends prioritizing water, food, medication, first aid supplies, hand-cranked/solar radios and flashlights, motor oil, cash, and back-up internet through a cell phone provider.[
