Vigilance, Precaution and Routine Behavior - The Socio-cultural Impact

Abstract

Human brains comprise threat-detection systems dedicated to: i) identifying particular cues of potential danger; ii) activate appropriate precautions; and iii) after precautions are taken, providing people with a sense of safety. Accordingly, threat generates profound changes in behavior via its controlling mechanisms. Individuals (humans or animals) may respond to overt life-threat by freezing or fleeing, whereas populations may include a socio-cultural component in threat response. The research completed under this grant had three objectives: 1. To uncover the structure of the spontaneous, commanded, and abnormal task performance and to assess the functionality and non-functionality in each mode of performance. 2. To compare routines, rituals and commanded performance of US citizens with that of South-African, Israeli, and Irish individuals. 3. To evaluate the impact of threat on individuals and groups with different social background. Research results are reported in five peer-reviewed journals. Findings are summarized and references included.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA546946

Entities

People

  • David Eilam

Organizations

  • Tel Aviv University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Brain
  • Data Acquisition
  • Department Of Defense
  • Detection
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Information Operations
  • Military Research
  • Scientific Research
  • Task Performance And Analysis

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.