We are never truly prepared for a catastrophic event but we spend plenty of time worrying about what we are going to do in one situation or another. We as human beings, much like animals, are hard-wired with survival skills; though sometimes our brains don’t always choose the right response. There are different tendencies the human brain leans toward in a life-threatening event or situation. Situational awareness and normalcy bias are two main tendencies that are displayed in disasters or extreme stress situations. These responses are not only achieved by experiencing a traumatic event but also by high risk activities such as sky diving and skiing. In the following paragraphs I will discuss how the brain responds to catastrophes and risky situations and how it can be a matter of survival and death.
We all respond in different ways in the event of a disaster. But there are a few key things that happen to everyone in an event. In the first chapter of The Unthinkable, Zedeno states she was overwhelmed with a feeling of peace and calm when she found herself trapped in an elevator in the World Trade Center during the attempted detonation of a car bomb. During the events of September 11th, it was also pointed out by Zedeno that she observed co-workers making phone calls and shutting down their computers, not realizing the urgency of the situation. In most instances people fall into a kind of fog where they have a hard time focusing on the reality of the situation. This tendency is called normalcy bias. This “fog” causes people to underestimate the disaster and its effects. People also tend to interpret warnings in the most optimistic way possible, making the situation seem less serious (Spalding).
Our brains often perceive danger a...
... middle of paper ...
...om/2006/09/29/world/americas/29iht-profile.2981944.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2>.
Spalding, Steven. "Normalcy Bias." How to split an atom. 29 08 2010. Web. 3 Dec 2010. .
Swink , David F. "Adrenaline Rushes: Can They Help Us Deal with a Real Crisis?." Threat Management. Psychology Today, January 31, 2010. Web. 3 Dec 2010. .
"Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571." Wikipedia. Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 02-12-2010. Web. 3 Dec 2010. .
"Survival Stories #4: Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 Andes Rugby Team Disaster." Spike. Spike.com, 29 08 2009. Web. 4 Dec 2010. .
Drea Knufken’s thesis statement is that “As a society, we’ve acquired an immunity to crisis” (510-512). This means that humans in general, or citizens of the world, have become completely desensitized to disasters, we think of them as just another headline, without any understanding of their impact upon fellow
Since the Nazi’s had been in Argentina in 1946, and the short story was written in 1946, Julio Cortazar could have made a connection to the invasion of Nazi’s in Argentina.
Richard Connells “The Most Dangerous Game” is a short story which illustrates that calm analytical thinking can increase your odds of survival and controlling panic.
hysteria. Some people participate in the hysteria out of fear. Others think more rationally and try to find an explanation. But no
1. First, in order to prevent a crisis situation, it is very important to know your triggers and arousal patterns. I came to know how to maintain control when someone is triggered and how to reduce arousal patterns. This is course provide me with great knowledge that will help me during a crisis. I also came to know how attitudes, assumptions, and beliefs may influence the worker’s response.
""How Does the Fight-or-flight Response Work? - Curiosity." Curiosity. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013
“Overthrow of Democratic Chile Part 1.” January 9, 2011. Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6kkaIfy9wU (accessed April 25, 20
Hazards pose risk to everyone. Our acceptance of the risks associated with hazards dictates where and how we live. As humans, we accept a certain amount of risk when choosing to live our daily lives. From time to time, a hazard becomes an emergent situation. Tornadoes in the Midwest, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast or earthquakes in California are all hazards that residents in those regions accept and live with. This paper will examine one hazard that caused a disaster requiring a response from emergency management personnel. Specifically, the hazard more closely examined here is an earthquake. With the recent twenty year anniversary covered by many media outlets, the January 17, 1994, Northridge, California earthquake to date is the most expensive earthquake in American history.
One of the famous mystery disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle is the famous Flight 19. It was December 5, 1945 and while doing their routine patrol they vanished. Flight 19 consisted of five Avenger torpedo bomber planes, each with a three-man crew. However, one of the crew did not show up that day, and so with fourteen crewmen, they took off for their scheduled routine patrol.
When faced with a dangerous situation, the common mind will flood with consternation, while the body changes its customary routine to adjust to this new development. One of the first things to change is the release of adrenaline. That adrenaline will cause the release of stored energy and move blood between the muscle groups (Conger 2). This allows the subject to move faster, work harder, and be stronger. All of these traits improve the individual to better survive the dilemma and find safety. Besides contributing to an increase in energy and power, the adrenal glands release cortisol too (Conger 1). The stress o...
It was the afternoon of July 25, 2000. One hundred passengers, most of them German, boarded the Concorde Air France Flight 4590. This was a trip of a lifetime for many people, as Concorde was restricted to the wealthy class of people. The excitement in people was cut short by the unfortunate delay in flight, because of maintenance in one of its engines. The passengers boarded the plane a couple of hours after the scheduled time. Finally, it was cleared for taxi on runway 26-Right. The pilots lined the aircraft parallel to the runway. A tragic accident, however, was about to befall.
Numerous studies have shown the human mind has a heightened ability to encode information relevant to our survival. During the standard paradigm used for proving a basis for survival processing, participants were instructed to imagine themselves in an unknown grassland without access to basic needs (Kostic, McFarlan, & Cleary, 2012). The subjects were then asked to rate a list of items based on how useful they would be given the survival scenario (Kostic et al., 2012). Following a short delay, the participants were then asked to recall or recognize items, which had previously been presented (Kostic et al., 2012). Based on the findings researchers were able to conclude words pertaining to our survival are better retained then words that are not, even when the survival scenario was changed to various situations such as a bank robbery (Kang, McDermott & Cohen, 2008), a vacation scene (Nairne, & Pandeirada, 2008), or survival in a large city setting (Nairne & Pandeirada, 2010). Although recent research has been able to clearly define what survival processing is there are more aspects, which have been explored and investigated which will be discussed within the confines of this paper. The two main areas that will be focused on are the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon and some of its limitations; a conclusion will then be drawn on future directions of study within this topic.
... T. (1979, November). Why I am not an Objective Bayesian: Some Reflections Prompted by Rosenkranz. Theory and Decision pp.413-440.
The documentary is an excellent source of information for novices on the topic of brain science. The complexity of the brain is addressed while still allowing the viewer to learn the basic workings of the brain. A wide range of viewer’s interests are included, so most people will find something of interest within the film. Research experiments are important sources of evidence in the documentary and several are used to support the claims of the documentary. The main weak point was the failure to address the importance of the fear response after idolizing the lack of it in Navy Seal
If life were merely a contest with fate, then should we not think before we act? Though some may argue that the proper time to reflect is before acting, I have learned from experience that, more times than not, this is not the best approach. The ability to act on instinct is crucial to success, in many situations. During an earthquake, for instance, one must quickly respond in whichever way necessary to protect themselves, as well as their loved ones. No matter how prepared, or trained, one may be, there is no way to predict what the essential motions should be taken at the time of an emergency.