Kai T. Erikson, 1986

Kai T. Erikson (born 1931) is an American sociologist and professor emeritus at Yale University, widely known for his work on social trauma, community resilience, and collective identity. The son of psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and became one of the leading figures in disaster and community studies. His landmark book Everything in Its Path (1976), which examined the aftermath of the 1972 Buffalo Creek flood in West Virginia, revealed how disasters devastate not only individuals but also the social fabric of communities; the work won the Sorokin Award from the American Sociological Association. Erikson also authored Wayward Puritans (1966), a classic in the sociology of deviance that explored how moral boundaries define social order. Through his research, teaching, and writing, Erikson helped shape the study of collective trauma and the sociology of disasters, emphasizing how social connectedness and shared meaning aid recovery in the face of catastrophe.(Written with AI assistance, 2025)