Terrorism, Stress and Coping: Perspectives from Psychology
Scott Kellogg, Ph.D.,
Clinical Psychologist, Laboratory of the Biology of the Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University
(Delivered at The Rockefeller University Community Meeting Wednesday, October 31, 2001.)

In the face of terrorism, whatever the method or form, a general rise in levels of stress and anxiety seems almost inevitable. The presence or potential for violence may require us to find new and creative ways of living and coping so that we are able to continue to thrive. I believe that some of the traditions within psychology can offer us practical strategies for living in this unfamiliar situation.

As the clinical and research literature on stress has made clear, there are fundamentally three approaches to dealing with stress.

The first approach is to eliminate or minimize the stressor. In the case of terrorist attacks, this is being done by our armed forces, our police departments and the other security organizations of our nation. As a practical matter, this method of coping -- the direct elimination of the terrorist threat -- is not in the realm of possibility for the ordinary citizen.

The second approach, however, is. The goal here is to help people reduce the negative impact of stress on the mind or body and to enable them to remain psychologically and physically vibrant in the face of strain. This is especially appropriate in situations where the stressor cannot be eliminated or controlled. Interventions in this domain would typically include engaging in exercise, using relaxation or meditation techniques, praying, listening to music, and doing other things that are healthy and help to strengthen the body.

On a more psychological or emotional level, Dr. James Pennebaker recommends that people take 20 minutes each day to write about their feelings. This simple exercise, done repeatedly, appears to have quite profound effects. (For more information, see http://www.journaltherapy.com/rosen/htm). A key to reaping the beneficial effects of all of these interventions is doing them daily or several times a week in a such a way that they become an essential and integral part of the overall structure of your life.

There are also activities that may allow you to feel better in the short run, but which are not healthy and are best avoided. These would include increasing your alcohol, marijuana, or other drug consumption, overeating or eating unhealthy foods.

The third approach is to try to change our psychological perspective or interpretation of the stressful, difficult or threatening event. I think that in the particular situation that we find ourselves in, a heroic response might be the healthiest. A heroic attitude could be seen as including such components as courage, identification and creativity. In the psychological literature, two relevant and important figures are Dr. Viktor Frankl and Dr. Alfred Adler.

Frankl was a psychiatrist and one of the major figures in the existential school of psychotherapy; he was also a survivor of the concentration camps. In his approach to dealing with life's problems, which he called Logotherapy (Frankl, 1962), he argued that when we are faced with difficult situations, situations that lead to pain, fear and anxiety, we have an opportunity to take a stance against them. He believed that all humans have this power or capacity, and he called it the defiant power of the human spirit (Fabry, 1988). This stance captures the energy of such ideas as going the distance and fighting the good fight. This is an important attitude because it directs people toward action and energy and away from passivity and helplessness.

Adler, another seminal figure in psychiatry and psychology, also had some insights that may be of relevance here. A military veteran of World War I, Adler made a link between the development of courage, positive connections to other people, and actions on their behalf. That is, if we become more emotionally and psychologically identified with our family, our friends and the social institutions that are significant in our society and then take actions to help ensure their wellbeing, our capacity for courage will increase.

One way of viewing these attacks is to understand that America is being challenged and tested, and this means that our culture and civilization are being threatened as well. Fortunately, because we live in such a diverse society, there are a great many things that we can find to identify with. As we choose the symbols that are personally meaningful, we have the possibility of growing in psychological strength.

This, in fact, is taking place around us. Throughout our nation, people are increasingly connecting with their identities as Americans -- most notably through the display of flags, but in other ways as well. For people who are from other parts of the world, this process could present them with an additional set of dilemmas. If they see themselves as innocent bystanders who are not really involved in the conflict, there is a greater likelihood of isolation, passivity, stress and such negative emotions as anxiety and depression.

An alternative is to see or identify themselves as friends or supporters of America. That is, they make our fight their fight. Another option, if that one does not feel comfortable, is to identify with some of the values that are under attack. For example, for members of The Rockefeller University faculty and staff, seeing oneself as a member of a worldwide scientific community is a way to become the kind of global citizen that the terrorists hate. These are only two possibilities, and I am sure that our colleagues from abroad can find other imaginative ways to make connections.

Ultimately, as Dr. Adler taught, the way to make these identifications and reap the psychological, physical and emotional benefits of this spirit of defiance and courage is through action, and the way we approach this gives us an opportunity to be creative. This means that rather than just wrestle with these ideas in some abstract manner, we should consciously and purposefully go out and affirm our institutions and the values that they stand for. We should not stay at home watching for news on anthrax, but instead we should go to the opera, visit the Museum of Natural History, see the Yankees play and visit our favorite places of beauty and meaning -- not just once but on an ongoing basis.

Our identities and identifications are a buffer against anxiety, and they have the potential to keep us strong. In this, we are not just limited to our present situation; we can look to history or recent events in other societies for inspiration. Bibliotherapy, or the reading about people who have been in similar situations, can also inspire us. As we become familiar with the World War II attacks on London, as we discover the coping mechanisms of the Israelis, as we learn about the creativity of the people of Sarajevo, as we read the speeches of Winston Churchill and other great leaders with their determination to fight and not give in, we can be energized by their words and deeds as well.

These guidelines have come from research, clinical practice and the personal experience of psychologists and psychiatrists who have been in some of the most extreme situations imaginable. It is my hope that these insights from psychology can be helpful to all of us in the days ahead.

For additional information, please call Ms. Jennifer Goldschlag at (212) 327-8073.