K. Sutton (Psychology)
4 SS, WRi
Full Course -- 4 Credits
Fall Semester FYSP 105-01 TR 11:00-12:15
The headline-grabbing events of September 11th, the war in Iraq, and images of victims of Hurricane Katrina confront us with the reality that for many people the world is hostile and violent; life is unpredictable and natural events may cause even basic necessities to vanish. Yet we know that human beings can survive catastrophic events with mind and body intact. Many may even flourish under seemingly intolerable conditions. How is this possible? This course asks: What is the human response to problems of catastrophic proportions? Under such conditions, how do we define mental health? What human qualities foster resilience to tragedy and trauma of global proportions? We will examine how people respond to the sociopolitical upheavals they are caught in, drawing upon both the scientific literature and personal accounts to understand how people stay sane in the face of horrific life circumstances.