SS #4: Survival Psychology

This PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPARATION class was presented by David & Belinda Bringhurst.
David is a professor of social work and was a psychologist for the US Air Force.

HILL'S ABCX MODEL OF FAMILY STRESS (Family Stress Theory, Reuben Hill)

ABC=X (or A x B x C = X)

(A) Stressors

(B) Internal Family Resources & Informal/Formal Social Supports

(C) Family Perception & Parental Self-Efficacy

= (X) Crisis

Could be applied to disaster and crisis preparedness

(A) Stressor event

(B) Resources (level of preparedness)

(C) Perception of A & B (highly impacted by normalcy bias)

= (X) level of crisis/adjustment

Low levels of resources/preparedness (B) and/or faulty perceptions (see normalcy bias below) or negative perceptions (C) leads to a stressor event becoming a larger crisis (or more difficult to adjust to), sometimes regardless of the magnitude of stressor event (A).

"The normalcy bias...is a mental state people enter when facing a disaster. It causes people to underestimate both the possibility of a disaster and its possible effects, because it causes people to have a *bias* to believe that things will always function the way things *normally* function. This may result in situations where people fail to adequately prepare and, on a larger scale, the failure of governments to include the populace in its disaster preparations.

The assumption that is made in the case of the normalcy bias is that since a disaster never has occurred, it never will occur. It can result in the inability of people to cope with a disaster once it occurs. People with a normalcy bias have difficulties reacting to something they have not experienced before. People also tend to interpret warnings in the most optimistic way possible, seizing on any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation" (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normalcy_bias).

"Normalcy bias (sociology): The phenomenon of disbelieving one's situation when faced with grave and imminent danger and/or catastrophe. As in overfocusing on the actual phenomenon instead of taking evasive action, a state of paralysis" (https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/normalcy_bias).

"Rounding out the theories about normalcy bias is the idea that people need information in order to act. If people don't know how to deal with a situation, they can't begin to deal with it, so they don't begin to deal with it."

"Nothing can be done about sudden shocks and natural instincts, so most researchers try to deal in increased information. This is why we're given countless safety lectures. Look at the exits and plan your exit route. In the event of an earthquake, a fire, a flood, do this. Drills and practices, even if only done in a person's imagination, at least give them the basic tools that they need when dealing with an emergency."

"More complicated...is the need to personalize the risk. This information — that the present disaster will harm you, yes you, so take action — is the hardest to accurately disseminate. People mill, asking for opinions, because they want to be told that everything is fine. They will keep asking, and delaying, until they get the answer they want. In a completely alien emergency situation — such as a downed, flaming plane — people think of the likelihood that they're mistaken about the nature of the emergency, and the consequences for screwing up if they take personal action. Although early warning systems, alarms, and alerts proliferate, very few things manage to get through to specific people that they are in personal danger, that they are on their own, and that they need to take steps to save themselves" (http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-frozen-calm-of-normalcy-bias-486764924, para. 5-7).

D&C 38:30 "...but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Example of normalcy bias: everyone around Noah. People believing things will always function the way things "normally" function. Whereas Noah, due to his spiritual connection with the Lord was able to believe the disaster was coming, and that the disaster would be immense.

Hebrews 11:7 "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Footnote defines fear as caution or reverence.

Alma 34:34 "Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will  [prepare], that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies [before a disaster occurs], that same spirit will have power to possess your body [after the disaster occurs]." Alternate phrasing added.

BELINDA'S NOTES

1. Why psychological preparedness?-Being Psychologically prepared helps you to cope better in the moment and reduces acute post-incident distress. 

2. It takes only 2 steps to become psychologically prepared for anything that this world can dish out. A. Take the Holy Spirit as your guide.    B. Repent regularly (daily).

The Holy Spirit will warn you ahead of time, prepare you. It will sustain you during, and will comfort you after, and emergency. It will teach you throughout. It is gentle, accurate, and exactly what you need. Repent means to return back to seeing things as God does.  (see Bible Dictionary).

3. 2 Nephi 32:3. "The words of Christ (scripture, prophets, Holy Ghost) will tell you all things what you should do." 

Proverbs 14:26 "In the fear (absolute trust) of the Lord is strong confidence and his children shall have a place of refuge." 

The goal of trauma recovery is to create safety and restore empowerment to a victim.  Think of all the great heroes of the scriptures.  They had absolute trust in God. Their safety came from being obedient to His words (scriptures, prophets, Holy Spirit). Fear was swallowed up by faith and charity.   Do they feel Safe? Do they feel empowered or victimized? “To be acted upon”

4. Getting over the normalcy bias: What emergencies could you face in your area? What would you be facing in each situation? My plan: Organize, practice, Trust in God (do what the prophets have asked) Prepare for the moment when all you have may not be enough. It could be that the thing that will be required for your exaltation is a test where you lose it all. Obedience will unlock promises. You may see miracles like the never emptying number 10 can of food.

5. D&C 46:8 "beware lest ye deceived." 2 Peter 3:3-4 "In the last days there shall come scoffers, walking in their own lusts, denying the Lord Jesus Christ and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep all things must continue as they are, and have continued as they are from the beginning of creation".To me "walking in their own lusts" means the natural man is in charge, and "denying the Lord" means ignoring his words (scriptures, prophets, Holy Spirit) and by seeking safety and refuge somewhere else (addictions). “Fathers fell asleep” could mean "passed on".

6. Face your fears. Take time to be mindful of them, then either surrender the things you cannot change or do something about it.

Testimony: I know I can receive guidance through the Holy Spirit. It will tell me all things I need to know and do. And I think it will do this line upon line, and it will be just right.