CRJS 390 Stress and Crisis Management

This course, to be delivered in three phases, addresses conflict resolution, stress management and working with survivors. Combining aspects of sociological and psychological considerations, students will be introduced to skills necessary to help resolve interpersonal conflict under very trying and stressful conditions like those marked by catastrophic incidents such as a terrorist act or a natural disaster. Students will learn that conflict is an inevitable, and complex, yet normal result of working closely with others in a high pressure, stress-inducing environment. There will be persons with competing personal as well as professional goals, egocentric maneuvering for power and influence and petty jealousies. Working under pressure, often fighting fatigue, irregular (and often unwholesome) meals, dealing with strict timelines and often irritable personalities, stress accumulates and takes an exacting toll on a person. This course will provide students with guidelines and methods for recognizing and mitigating high-pressure stress inducing symptoms. Students will find that survivors of a traumatic event will have various psychological and physical reactions.