Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor, Psychology, Cleveland State University

Research Practicum Introduction

In the wake of a crisis, many individuals experience anxiety. Those who already struggle with mental health might experience exacerbation of symptoms, and those who may grapple with symptoms of post traumatic stress might find themselves enduring flashbacks or re-experiencing events.

However, experiences of collective struggle can also strengthen community ties and increase individual resilience. In this course, we will study the impact of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the current global pandemic through the lens of Post-Traumatic Growth.

We'll answer questions about individual and community resilience throughout crises in an effort to understand how we can facilitate these positive outcomes. We'll also explore the effectiveness of mindfulness practices such as deep breathing and guided meditation as tools for dealing with individual and community stress. In this program, students may choose to research and write about key concepts in the field, case studies, or comparisons between individual and community responses. They can also choose to write policy papers, advising schools, governments, and international organizations on best responses to crises.

Students will also learn general and subject-specific research and academic writing methods used in universities and scholarly publications and generate their own work product upon completion of the program.

Project Topics

• Short and long term effects of crises on mental health

• Coping mechanisms and tools for achieving happiness during crises

• Individual vs. community psychology during crises

• Post Traumatic Growth and trauma recovery

• Increasing the likelihood of positive, psychological outcomes during crises

• The study and practice of mindfulness

Program Detail

• Cohort Size: 3-5 students

• Workload: Around 4-5 hours per week (including class time and homework time)

• Target Students: 9-12th grade students interested in psychology, public policy, sociology and social science in general.