From crisis to growth

"When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower."
– Alexander Den Heijer

Every year, the Psychology Coalition at the United Nations [PCUN] organises an annual Psychology Day. The aim of the event is to show the relevance of psychological research and theories in supporting the work of the United Nations. Previous years' Psychology Day topics have addressed gender equity, migration, peace and security, and education. This year's topic is 'From Crisis to Growth: Psychological Contributions to Building Global Resilience'. 

When I told my colleague Masi Noor that Chris Nguyen and I were planning to focus on Global Resilience, he responded that he didn't quite like the idea of resilience. At the time, I was quite surprised: how can the construct of resilience be seen as problematic? Luckily, it didn't take too long for me to realise that the idea of resilience is often used in a manner very similar to the idea of self-efficacy: in other words, these are seen as skills that individuals ought to develop. An unfortunate consequence of this perspective is that those who lack self-efficacy or resilience are seen as somehow less than others. This allows people in privileged positions, as well as institutions, to disengage morally from the duty to support and acknowledge their responsibility in others' living conditions.

In a similar vein, Malaka Shwaikh rejects the idea of resilience and asks the question: why should Palestinian citizens be expected to be resilient? Shouldn't the global community instead ensure that humans are never put in a position where resilience is demanded of them? We argue that the same applies to all citizens facing crises and adversities beyond their sphere of direct influence. It is true that a fragile plant (or a flower, in Der Heijer's quote above) can crack the cement and emerge looking for light and nourishment. For that to happen, however, the plant must find nourishment and strength in the ground that sustains its roots. Correspondingly, resilience needs a nurturing and enabling environment for it to thrive. 

This is the reason why we decided that Psychology Day should focus more on global resilience. In other words, the question we're asking is: how can our knowledge of psychology help design systems that are resilient to the challenges posed by technology, climate change, war, prejudice, and injustice?

Humans and the problem

The United Nations represents an important body that sets the standards and expectations of the global community. Its Sustainable Development Goals constitute a guide to the future that we, as humans, want to build for ourselves in collaboration and respect for all other beings on the planet. Psychological research can help achieve these goals and address the challenges posed by technology, climate change, war, and prejudice. All these challenges have one thing in common: humans play an important role as the cause of the problem, its maintenance, or indeed as part of the solution. But once again, the solution will not and cannot come from single individuals or individual subjectivities. It has to come from the systems that we create for ourselves and our future.

The first theme, Climate Change and Sustainability, will address how human behaviour, environmental attitudes, and perceptions of nature influence our capacity to harmonise development with planetary survival. Our expert, Dr Kim-Pong Tam, is currently a Professor in the Division of Social Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His work focuses on understanding how people perceive their relationships with nature and the emotional and behavioural implications of such perceptions; exploring the role of culture in environmental attitudes and pro-environmental behaviours; and examining human responses to the problem of climate change. He regularly teaches environmental psychology and the psychology of climate change in Hong Kong and Japan. Additionally, he actively collaborates with and provides consulting services to local and international environmental organisations. His contribution will help us understand how to create environmentally mindful living settings, which will offer pathways for sustainable action.

The second theme, Peace and Security, will explore psychological approaches to conflict resolution and integral dialogue, drawing parallels between human conflicts and our strange relationship with the natural world. Our expert, Dinka Čorkalo Biruški, a professor of social psychology at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia. Her research interests include intergroup relations in war and peace, especially the processes of social reconstruction in post-war communities. She teaches courses on intergroup processes, prejudice and discrimination, peace psychology, and ethics in research and professional practice. She will present her work on the role of social context in trauma recovery and reconciliation, as well as post-war social reconstruction processes in divided communities. This will offer insights on strategies for promoting peaceful coexistence and mitigating the psychological impact of global crises on communities. 

The third speaker, Dr David Luxton, is a licensed clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He is also the founder of the AI consulting and development company Luxton Labs LLC, and the co-founder of Mentem.lab LLC. Dr. Luxton's research and writing focus on advancing innovative healthcare technologies, specialising in artificial intelligence, machine ethics, and telehealth. He will examine the psychological implications of the rapid growth of technology in general, and artificial intelligence in particular; he will highlight the role of cognitive biases in AI design, the spread of misinformation, and the potential of technology to support sustainable development goals. This presentation will pertain to the third theme AI and Technology, and will emphasise how psychological research can inform the responsible and ethical development of technology to enhance global resilience.

Our fourth speaker, Professor Ines Meyer, is a professor of organisational psychology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her experiences in corporate and community-based organisations have profoundly shaped her academic focus. She applies her discipline knowledge to poverty alleviation and inequality reduction efforts, and to create a more humane workplace. She holds the South African Research Chair Initiative's chair in Creation of Decent Work and Sustainable Livelihood, which champions the idea that the effect on human dignity should guide economic decisions. Her contribution will emphasise the importance of inclusive knowledge-sharing and the need to amplify voices from underrepresented communities, tapping into our fourth theme of Silenced Voices.

Finally, our expert moderator, Dr LaRicka Wingate, is a Professor of Psychology and an affiliate faculty member in Africana Studies at Oklahoma State University (USA). She focuses on Black-centered mental health research, particularly exploring protective factors for African Americans and marginalised groups. Her research examines key aspects such as acculturation, racial microaggressions, historical trauma, racial discrimination, and intersectionality, with a focus on Black suicide and mental health. Her contribution will provide a synthesis of the presentations and a comprehensive overview of how psychological theories and evidence can be applied to build resilient societies. This synthesis will highlight the interconnected nature of the themes, offering insights on how psychology can inform strategies for overcoming adversity at individual, community, and systemic levels.

We look forward to sharing this experience with you. The day takes place on 24 April: please register here.