Dark Economy Personality Show In The Midst Of The Sumatra Disaster

JAKARTA There is a classic disease that keeps repeating every disaster that affects the people of Indonesia, including flash floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. When the water has not subsided, residents/victims are still hit, and the SAR team is still struggling, but the camera has arrived earlier. Shortly thereafter, state officials, both executive and legislative, were present along with a large group, complete with documentation cameras that worked more diligently than some officers in the field.

This fact ultimately raises public question marks, is this a disaster response or just an image ritual? Later, the name of the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan and a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PAN faction, Verrell Bramasta, became the public spotlight. Both are considered to be "utilizing" disasters in Sumatra only for the sake of imagery and popularity.

How could Zulhas- Zulkifli Hasan's nickname in carrying out his duties always be assisted by personal assistants or secretists. The public certainly never sees Zulhas carrying his own bag when doing activities such as meetings outside his office. So, how suddenly a Zulhas brings himself up a sack of aid for disaster victims?

Likewise Verrell Bramasta. The son of the former member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Venna Melinda, is used to wearing formal suits such as shirts and suits when doing activities as members of parliament. However, when visiting disaster victims in Padang, Verrell actually wore a tactical vest that was certainly considered excessive by the public. In fact, the members of the TNI who participated directly, either evacuated or opened access roads, never wore tactical vests.

Dharma Andalas University Padang researcher, Desi Sommaliagustina, said that such a portrait confirms one thing, that the funeral room is always at risk of turning into a stage room. Even though disasters should be a moment when officials come to work, not to appear. People who have lost their homes, families, and live security, are not waiting for a smile on the camera, but a quick decision and the ability to unravel bureaucratic barriers.

However, in practice, the presence of officials often confiscates energy, the evacuation route must be closed while the group passes, officers are asked to stop paying respect, even the refugees are asked to be 'at the location' during the photo shoot. This is where the basic issues arise, when the camera spotlight is prioritized over the needs of the victims, then empathy turns into a mere formality.

This phenomenon is not just about the taste of official communication. This is related to the quality of leadership. A true leader does not need a camera to show that he is present. He is proven by the policies that have an impact, from the courage to make difficult decisions, and from the sensitivity to the suffering of his citizens," he explained.

According to Desi, the problem is that some officials actually use the camera as a means of legitimacy. The public is forced to believe that their presence is proof of work, even though what is needed is results, open the spotlight. If we are honest, most disaster documentation serves as a means of justification that officials have intervened. Without that, they feel invisible. This is the most fragile point of our leadership, dependence on visual evidence, not proof of performance," he added.

He revealed, there are at least three ethical issues from the practice of these officials. First, it interferes with the effectiveness of disaster management, where protocol groups of officials almost always take space and time that should be used for evacuation or logistics distribution. Second, it creates the inequality of the relationship, when a grieving citizen is forced to become a photo background whose fact is that their trauma cannot be juxtaposed with poses. Third, it lowers the quality of accountability, because it prioritizes the camera as a center of attention, not accurate data and always sinking achievements.

Narsism, Machiavellianism, And Subclinical Economy

Psychologist Danti Wulan Manunggal, assessed that the behavior of officials in responding to disasters, including in Sumatra, such as placing self-photos on sacks and aid packs, carrying aid rice in front of the camera, and wearing tactical vests while monitoring areas of floods, demi of imagery and popularity, could be categorized as nirempati behavior which is often associated with fire speech or antisocial personality disorder. Clinically,nicity is a personality disorder characterized by the inability to comply with social norms, impulsiveness, and lack of guilt.

He explained that not all officials who manipulate images can be categorized as clinically literate. For example, officials who take selfies in the midst of disasters that do not fully meet the clinical criteria of fire, because they may still care about their own families or their image. However, they show the main symptoms of

They may know logically that other people suffer (cognitive tenure), but they don't feel the sadness of others (effective EMPATHY). For them, disaster victims are objects or photo properties, not people who are traumatized," said Danti.

According to him, the imaging event in the midst of a disaster does provide benefits for officials politically. By being present at the location or posting their names and photos wrapped in aid, they are seen being involved and close to residents. Although it cannot be directly categorized as akunese, this behavior has strong characteristics with the characteristics of the Dark Economy Personality.

In the context of power and politics, the behavior of officials who manipulate imaging in the midst of disasters is more appropriate to explain using the concept of three negative traits. The three of them arepansisism, machiavellianism, and subclinical psychopaths. Physic people have the characteristics of feeling themselves the most important and need to be admired by others. During a disaster, this behavior is demonstrated with a attitude that believes that their presence is a gift for the victims. The focus is not on help, but on how they are seen as providing assistance. They need public validation: Look, I'm working," added Dani.

Meanwhile, machiavellianism is a manipulative, strategic, and legalized personality form of all means to achieve goals. This includes power or popularity. The principle of gaining and maintaining power in that way was introduced by Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli. In machiavellianism, people of this kind usually see disaster as a political opportunity. They counted, if I came and photographed hugging the victim, my electability rose. This is a cold speculation without emotion," he said.

While the subclinical psychopathic attitude is characterized by a lack of empathy and regret, as well as high social courage (not ashamed). His behavior during a disaster can be seen when he smiles broadly when handing over aid in front of the camera. While behind him, there is a house destroyed or the victim crying. They don't feel cognitive dissonance or an odd feeling of contrast," said Danti.

He further explained that officials who carry out imaging in the midst of disasters can also be referred to as performance fourhy, where they simulate concern because they know it is a 'social disaster' that must be played by a leader. The official considers disaster as a stage set and the victim is an extra. They, as the main character, have the aim of manipulating the impression on the audience, in this case a wider community.

When officials put their face stickers wrapped in aid or force victims to line up for photos during an emergency, they are dehumanizing. Victims are not considered human beings who need privacy and dignity, but political commodities," said Danti.

Apart from individual psychological factors, there are system factors that exacerbate the situation. For example, the political system in Indonesia often appreciates visual evidence more than real results. The culture of No Viral, No Justice/Work makes officials feel that if they work in silence, the people will think they don't work. Then, the circle of staff or people of my mind. Officials are often surrounded by staff or a successful team who suggest they take pictures at the disaster site, without thinking about ethics.

The behavior shows a severe deficit of empathy which is the main characteristic ofTENness. However, in the context of public officials, this is a manifestation of historicalism and acute machiavellianism. This is a form of symbolic violence against disaster victims, has fallen, has been hit by stairs, then turned into a spectacle," said Danti.

Desi Sommaliagustina emphasized that disaster management requires something much more important, namely silent leadership that works behind the scenes, no need for applause and honest information, making decisions quickly, and attending without interruption.

If the government intends to improve its image, it works quite a lot more, talks fairly. The camera will come by itself when the community feels the benefits. Finally, the public does not reject the presence of officials. What is rejected is a futile presence. The public is not anti-documentation. What is rejected is documentation that sacrifices work. The public does not demand officials disappear from the spotlight. What is demanded is an empathetic presence, not a presence that takes advantage of tragedy.

Disaster is a situation when humans are tested and officials tested twice. The first test is whether he is able to reduce the suffering of his citizens. The second test is whether he is able to refrain from making the suffering a stage. Some pass. Others are still busy looking for the best camera.