COLLECTIVE CRISIS: HOW AND WHY PEOPLE RESPOND SO DIFFERENTLY TO FEAR

When life-threatening emergencies arise, fear begins to work in mysterious ways and it invokes a wide range of individual responses. To better understand the collective crisis and process the seemingly odd behavior of others, let’s demystify the varying degrees of the fear response. More importantly, building awareness around why you may react in a certain way and why others may respond so differently has the power to transform exasperation and judgment into empathy and collaboration, in a time where we are in dire need of the latter.

First, a brief lesson in how the body, mind, environmental, and social factors work together to create our customized fear response. Then, a rundown of four archetypes that help to explain common defense responses that tend to take over during a crisis, emergency, or pandemic, i.e. The Alarmist, The Pragmatic, The “What if” Worrier, and The Dismisser. 

BODY & MIND WORKING TOGETHER

Let’s first acknowledge how little to no preparation or education is provided to us when it comes to mental response procedures for emergency situations. We may learn physical or survival-based techniques for a fire or an earthquake, but aside from “STAY CALM”, very little is offered to us about how we can maintain clarity, calm, and clear cognition during a disaster. 

This lack of education is especially crucial because our responses are physiologically and emotionally tied to our behavior and vice versa. A little bit about this partnership...

Our bodies and minds are set on maintaining what is called “homeostasis”--AKA we are comforted by a normalized routine in day-to-day life or calmed by maintaining a steady range of physiological levels, i.e. glucose,  temperature, heart rate, etc. 

Even small changes to expectations can impact us in both areas. These disruptions trigger our adrenal gland, activating the part of the brain associated with fear and anger. Simultaneously, neuro-chemicals that nourish our decision-making skills start to drain. These changes give way to increased anxiety, overwhelm, and flooding. The body and the mind continue to activate one another in these ways to prepare for survival against a perceived threat. And just like that, we enter “Fight or Flight” mode. 

Fear-driven experiences like increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and a sensation of elevated fear set the stage for hypervigilance or clouded cognition. In response, we are frantic to self-soothe and bring the mind and body back to homeostasis. And this is exactly how irrational problem-solving and maladaptive behavior are born.

THE ROLE OF NATURE AND NURTURE

As an added layer, our histories, identities, and personalities will further dictate our response to emergencies. Factors like generational age, past trauma exposure, socio-economic status, pre-existing anxiety, level of privilege, spiritual conviction, and whether or not one has an adaptive arsenal of coping and emotional regulation skills will all play a pivotal role in how we tune into our bodies, self-regulate, and act. 

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

In a silo, the above factors would operate independently, but we are social creatures! Enter the impact of the collective. Our community’s behavior is contagious and although it may conflict with our own assessment of the present danger, the reactions of others may seem more appealing or urgent to mimic. Perhaps they appear more confident in their response, or maybe they hold a higher level of credibility in relation to the crisis, or it’s very possible that there’s power in numbers and the sheer amount of people responding in a certain way must be correct. Ultimately, their words and actions signify whether we should be alarmed or calm and as a result, we adjust our intuitive response accordingly.

ARCHETYPES OF FEAR RESPONSE

Since we are such a connected society, the ingredients in the above response recipe is likely to yield a few common responses. It’s likely that you may witness the following archetypes take shape: The Alarmist, The Pragmatic, The “What if” Worrier, and The Dismisser. These are not exhaustive or restrictive categories, merely observational stereotypes in an effort to explain patterns of fear-driven thinking. And more importantly, it’s a way to make sense of the chaos of human behavior during a crisis.

THE ALARMIST

“Honey, grab 30 rolls of Charmin and get in the bunker!”

While it may seem like dark or selfish behavior, this reaction may not be riddled with malicious intent like many believe. In actuality, these folks are so overwhelmed with fear that they move straight to autopilot action.

Sans crisis, Alarmists may tend to see the world through a worst-case scenario lens. So, when they sense the slightest hint of danger, they skip out on any information-gathering stages and beeline to assuming the most apocalyptic outcome. In order to quell the wave of helplessness that this conclusion washes over them, they immediately activate preparation mode. High on adrenaline and doom, their vision is clouded by one goal--to survive. 

Some of these folks are the ones who bought out masks and purchased TP in bulk before the public even grasped the magnitude of COVID-19. And it may seem like they are neglecting the needs of others, but in their eyes, there is literally no time for compassion when the doomsday clock is ticking. They are panicked into a life-and-death, survival-of-the-fittest philosophy and impulsively prioritize the survival of themselves and their loved ones by any means necessary.

THE PRAGMATIC

“BRB! on the hunt for cold, hard facts.”

In normal life, pragmatics are turned on by logic. Facts offer them definitive answers to an overwhelmingly uncertain world. Facts ultimately provide safety and structure to navigate situations that would otherwise feel unsettling. 

So, in a crisis situation, these folks hang onto logic for dear life and compulsively hunt for information to alleviate anxiety. They will combat creeping panic by turning to credible info in order to seek reassurance that everything is under control and will be OK. To them, learning feels like power in a helpless situation and with that, they may appear unusually cool, calm, and collected during a stressful crisis. 

However, there’s a chance that this behavior won’t last forever. Situations are labeled “crisis” for a reason and typically imply a deviation from safety or normalcy. This may ultimately force The Pragmatic to come face-to-face with the reality that there is no longer a researched explanation or structured game-plan available for the given situation. Confronted with surrendering to the unknown, they must let go of their beloved logic. 

THE “WHAT IF” WORRIER 

“Who will take care of the elderly? What if kids go hungry? Will hospitals overflow? What will happen to hourly workers? Am I doing enough to help?”

During an emergency situation, information is vital. Whether it’s provided by your body, the news, social media, the authorities, and those around you, information is sifted and assessed to conclude a response. However, during a crisis, information becomes increasingly compromised as your body dysregulates, social media conflicts, authorities appear unprepared, news sources seem unpredictable, and the public relays hints of mass panic. 

The information pipeline is overwhelming and disorganized, causing The “What If” Worrier’s emotional and physiological responses to flood their systems. As a result, they are paralyzed with fear and their level of control is maintained through worry. Racing thoughts about any and all ramifications continuously play out as “What If” Worriers mentally prepare for every scenario. 

In completely losing a sense of their own volition, they are likely to cling to others for validation or guidance. In a desperate search for social proof, they may propose their racing thoughts to whoever will listen or they may spiral down an internet rabbit hole and fixate on one particular doomsday scenario. In the end, their hypervigilance to the cues of others creates lemmings out of “What If” Worriers. And especially in a crisis, they ultimately tend to believe or do whatever it is that the masses are believing or doing, regardless of whether it’s wrong or right. 

THE DISMISSER

“I will simply continue business-as-usual, so that the problem can’t reach me!”

This group shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Throughout history, people have had some serious difficulty grasping the severity or even acknowledging the existence of world-wide events. The Dismissers are the folks whose instinct after hearing a fire alarm is to assume that it is a drill. And even after they smell the smoke, they will gladly accept confirmation that the alarm was accidentally pulled. This group views routine as a refuge when anything threatens to disrupt normalcy. As a result, they will engage a “business as usual” approach for as long as they possibly can. To hold tight to routine during a crisis, they scour for biased information that can help them deny the reality of danger or diffuse personal responsibility. They will cling to narratives that blame others for the problem, suggest dramatization of panic, or flat-out deny an issue’s existence. How can they be afraid of something that isn’t real? How can they feel the immense pressure to act when there’s nothing to worry about? Any accessible path to dismissal, they’ll take it because, well...ignorance is bliss and assists them in maintaining a false sense of security. 

And even when all signs increasingly point to danger, they will commit to denial until they can’t any longer. Exhibit A: Those who rubbed elbows at bars during COVID-19, right up until the govt ban.  And ultimately, The Dismisser may have to drop their futile attempt to maintain homeostasis and acknowledge loss of routine and control.

**** Written for Meridian Counseling by Lauren Levy Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT 113813)

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