The Psychology of Collective Crisis

This course explores our psychological responses to the different stages of a collective crisis; warning phase, acute phase, chronic phase, and resolution phase. We will leverage our experience with and response to the COVID-19 pandemic to inform our understanding of the psychological principles that determine our emotional reactions to a crisis, that explain variations in the cognitive processing of a crisis event, the proliferation of misinformation, conspiracy theories and scapegoating, and that underlie the behavioral problems that can emerge in a crisis. We will also examine how psychology can inform effective crisis management, communication, and recovery. You will have the opportunity to participate in collaborative and individual original research and community projects, public service announcements, and policy recommendations. Visit our google course site for more information about this course. Enrollment limited to 18. COEX. WRIT.