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Exam: 04.01 Synthesizing Information:


What is the central idea of Survivor Psychology by Dr. Hobbs Hopewell?

1. When it comes to survival, motivation is critical. In the past, studies have found that one trait is a common thread amongst all survivors: the will to live. Psychologists have found that humans tend to give up without something to push them forward. In World War II prisoner of war camps, the Japanese called this phenomenon bura-bura, which translates into the "do nothing" sickness. Americans coined the feeling "give-up-it is" during the Korean War.

2. Over the last several decades, this idea of giving up on life became known as psychogenic death. It occurs when people believe that their current situations, most often extreme, are inescapable. They decide they'd rather give in than fight on. While humans can live minutes without air, hours without warmth, days without water, and weeks without food, a lack of hope can eliminate a person's optimism in seconds. Part of keeping hope alive comes from a person's ability to adapt to their environment, even if it's scary.

3. In 1943, Ernest Maslow determined that there is a hierarchy of human needs. Simply put, the things we need to survive form a pyramid. The most basic needs, like food and water, are the most important. But that's not all it takes. Once someone's basic needs are met, they move to the next step: safety. When a person feels secure, their chances of survival increase. After safety comes love and a sense of belonging. Maslow believed those who connect with others have more to live for. Next up on the survival scale is respect and recognition. When humans have a specified role, it pushes them to persevere. Maslow felt the higher a person could move up on his hierarchy of needs, the greater their chances of survival.

4. In essence, even the most skilled survivalists may only have what it takes to make it through extreme or intense situations if they can move past the second tier of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Having tools and skills is one thing, but having someone or something to live for is another.