1. Psychological Aspects of Survival
AS 400 SURVIVAL
Lesson 1-4
Psychological Aspects of Survival

2. How ready are you to learn today?
Not very ready... Forgot my Student ID
A little slow to get going... Right shoe on my left foot?
Good to go... Car started this morning!
I am focused, Feeling Good! 28
(AS100-U1C1L1:LQ1)

3. This a positive benefit of stress?
I know I will never be rescued
It will make me give up and die
It can make us weaker
It can stimulate us to do our best 20

4. Sources & Resources
AFR 64-4
Air Force Pamphlet
AFTP

5. Unit 1 The Elements of Surviving
Survival Preparedness
Conditions Affecting Survival
The Survivor’s Needs
Psychological Aspects of Survival
The Will to Survive

6. Psychological Aspects of Survival
1. Lesson Objective
Know that coping with the psychological aspects of survival is a key ingredient in any survival situation.
Samples of Behavior/Main Points
a. Define stress.
b. Define fatigue.
c. Define aversion.
d. List ten common signs of distress.
e. Identify two critical threats to a successful survival.
f. List ten survival stresses.
g. List natural reactions to survival threats.
h. List seven ways a survivor can prepare to rule over natural reactions and stresses common to survival.

7. VOCABULARY
Stress - Any emotional, physical, and social factor that requires a response or change which can cause an increase in body temperature.
Fatigue - Physical or mental weariness due to energetic activities.
Aversion – A feeling or dislike toward something, a desire to avoid or turn away from something

8. Physical or mental weariness due to energetic activities.
Aversion
Fatigue
Rest
Stress 17

9. Psychology to Survival
It takes much more than the knowledge and skills to build shelters, get food, make fires, and travel without the aid of standard navigational devices to live successfully through a survival situation.
1. Some people with little or no survival training have managed to survive life-threatening circumstances.
2. Some people with survival training have not used their skills and died.
3. A key ingredient in any survival situation is the mental attitude.
4. Having survival skills is important, but having the will to survive is essential. Without a desire to survive, acquired skills serve little purpose and invaluable knowledge goes to waste.

10. Psychology to Survival
The person in a survival environment faces many stresses that ultimately impact on his mind.
These stresses can produce thoughts and emotions that, if poorly understood, can transform a confident, well-trained person into an uncertain, ineffective individual with questionable ability to survive.
Every survivor must be aware of and be able to recognize those stresses commonly associated with survival.
It is important that the survivors be aware of their reactions to the wide variety of stresses associated with survival.

11. Stress
Need for Stress. Stress is not a disease that you cure and eliminate. Instead, it is a condition we all experience.
1. Stress can be described as our reaction to pressure.
2. It is the name given to the experience we have as we physically, mentally, and emotionally respond to life’s tensions.
3. We need stress because it has many positive benefits.
a. Stress provides us with challenges.
b. It gives us chances to learn about our values and strengths.
c. Stress can show our ability to handle pressure without breaking.
d. It tests our adaptability and flexibility.
e. It can stimulate us to do our best.
f. It highlights what is important to us.
4. We need to have some stress in our lives, but too much can be bad.

12. This a positive benefit of stress?
I know I will never be rescued
It will make me give up and die
It can make us weaker
It can stimulate us to do our best 20

13. Distress Too much stress leads to distress.
Distress causes an uncomfortable tension that we try to escape and, preferably avoid. Listed below are a few of the common signs of distress:
a. Difficulty making decisions
b. Angry outbursts
c. Forgetfulness
d. Low energy level
e. Constant worrying
f. Tendency to make mistakes
g. Thoughts about death or suicide
h. Trouble getting along with others
i. Withdrawing from others
j. Hiding from responsibilities
k. Carelessness

14. Survival Stresses
Two of the critical threats to successful survival are yielding to comfort and apathy. Both threats represent attitudes which must be avoided.
Many people consider comfort their greatest need. Yet, comfort is not essential to human survival. Survivors must value life more than comfort, and be willing to tolerate heat, hunger, dirt, itching, pain, and any other discomfort.
As the will to keep trying lessens, drowsiness, mental numbness, and indifference will result in apathy. This apathy usually builds on slowly, but ultimately takes over and leaves a survivor helpless. .

15. Survival Stresses
Injury, Illness, or Death are real possibilities a survivor has to face.
Perhaps nothing is more stressful than being alone in an unfamiliar environment where you could die from hostile action, an accident, or from eating something lethal.
Uncertainty and Lack of Control.
It can be extremely stressful operating on limited information in a setting where you have limited control of your surroundings

16. Two of the critical threats to successful survival are yielding to _________ and apathy
weather
comfort
fear
cold 18

17. Survival Stresses Environment
Depending on how a survivor handles the stress of his environment, his surroundings can be either a source of food and protection or can be a cause of extreme discomfort leading to injury, illness, or death.
Pain
Pain, like fever, is a warning signal calling attention to an injury or damage to some part of the body.

18. Survival Stresses Thirst and Dehydration
Lack of water and its accompanying problems of thirst and dehydration are among the most critical problems facing survivors.
Cold and Heat
1. Just as “numbness” is the principal symptom of cold, “weakness” is the principal symptom of heat

19. Survival Stresses G. Hunger:
Hunger and semi-starvation are more commonly experienced among survivors than thirst and dehydration.
Fatigue:
A survivor must avoid complete exhaustion which may lead to physical and psychological changes, take Short rest breaks during extended stress periods can improve total output.

20. Survival Stresses
I. Sleep Deprivation - A person may suddenly be sleepy immediately after a period of feeling awake.
Isolation- Loneliness, helplessness, and despair which are experienced by survivors when they are isolated are among the most severe survival stresses
K. Fear- is an emotional response to dangerous circumstances that we believe have the potential to cause death, injury, or illness

21. A sign of sleep deprivation is to suddenly be ________ immediately after a period of feeling awake
sleepy
well rested
hungry
startled 20
(AS100-U1C1L1:LQ5)

22. Natural Reactions Loss of Self-Esteem:
Try to maintain proper perspective about both the situation and themselves.
Loss of Self-Determination:
Factors which may cause individuals to feel they have lost the power of self-determination are bad weather, or rescue forces that make time or movement demands

23. Natural Reactions Panic:
In the face of danger, a person may panic or “freeze” and cease to function in an organized manner.
Hate:
An understanding of the emotion and its causes is the key to learning to control it.

24. Preparing Yourself
Your mission as a survivor in a survival situation is to stay alive.
A. Know Yourself.
1. Through training, family, and friends take the time to discover who you are on the inside.
2. Strengthen your stronger qualities and develop the areas that you know are necessary to survive.
B. Anticipate Fears.
1. Don’t pretend that you will have no fears.
2. The goal is not to eliminate the fear, but to build confidence in your ability to function despite your fears.

25. Preparing Yourself C. Be Realistic.
1. Don’t be afraid to make an honest estimate of situations. See circumstances as they are, not as you want them to be.
2. Keep your hopes and expectations within the estimate of the situation. Follow the saying, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”
D. Adopt a Positive Attitude.
1. Learn to see the potential good in everything.
2. Looking for the good not only boasts morale, it also is excellent for exercising your imagination and creativity.

26. Preparing Yourself E. Remind Yourself What is at Stake.
1. Remember, failure to prepare yourself psychologically to cope with survival leads to reactions such as depression, carelessness, inattention, loss of confidence, poor decision making, and giving up before the body gives in.
2. At stake is your life and the lives of others who are depending on you to do your share.
F. Train.
1. Through survival training and life experiences, begin today to prepare yourself to cope with the hardship of survival.
2. Demonstrating your skills in training will give you the confidence to call upon them should the need arise.

27. Preparing Yourself G. Learn Stress Management Techniques.
1. People under stress have a potential to panic if they are not well-trained and not prepared psychologically to face whatever the circumstances maybe.
2. Learning stress management techniques can significantly enhance your capability to remain calm and focused as you work to keep yourself and others alive.
3. A few good techniques to develop include relaxation skills, time management skills, assertiveness skills, and the ability to control how you view a situation.
4. Remember, “the will to survive” can also be considered, “the refusal to give up.”

28. Adopting a positive attitude Know yourself
In preparing your survival skills, when you strengthen your stronger qualities and develop the areas that you know are necessary to survive falls under which skill?
By military training
Adopting a positive attitude
Know yourself
Learning stress management skills 20

29. Review a. Define stress. b. Define fatigue. c. Define aversion.
d. List ten common signs of distress.
e. Identify two critical threats to a successful survival.
f. List ten survival stresses.
g. List fifteen natural reactions to survival threats.
h. List seven ways a survivor can prepare to rule over natural reactions and stresses common to survival.

30. Unit 1-5 - The Will to Survive
Next
Unit The Will to Survive