The Psychology Report

Why do people criticise emergency services and their decisions following a disaster?

Sarb Johal • Dec 16, 2019

• disaster,
• emergency response,
• police,
• Psychology,
• Risk,
• uncertainy,
• volcano,
• Whakaari,
• White Island

Why have we seen such criticisms of the emergency response and the decision to delay recovery rather than take immediate action? Why do some people think they can make better decisions that the Police and other authorities? To understand this better, we need to think about how and why we might feel the need to make decisions for other … Read More

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How to support after the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption

Sarb Johal • Dec 12, 2019

• disaster,
• eruption,
• psychosocial recovery,
• psychosocial support,
• PTSD,
• recovery,
• trauma,
• White Island

As details emerge about what unfolded on Whakaari / White Island two days ago, my thoughts go out to all the families affected by this terrible event. My thoughts are also with the first responders who worked in perilous circumstances to assist and protect those affected. Both local and wider international communities are affected, and will continue … Read More

After Christchurch: Why rituals are important

Sarb Johal • Mar 22, 2019

• Canterbury Earthquakes,
• Christchurch mosque shootings,
• Psychology,
• trauma

Today marks one week since the tragic events of 15 March 2019. As we remember those who were killed and injured, those whose lives were changed forever on that day, I thought I would post a few responses to things that people have been asking me about, either on email, in person or through media requests.   What happens … Read More

After Christchurch: What to do when our protective bubble has burst and why

Sarb Johal • Mar 20, 2019

• Anxiety,
• disaster,
• Psychology,
• Safety

We have a window of time in which we can make profound changes in New Zealand so that nothing like the Christchurch attacks on 15 March 2019 can happen again. But there is a high risk that this window is going to close soon so we need to move quickly. And it will take profound, coherent,  and courageous leadership to … Read More

After Christchurch: what you might be feeling and why

Sarb Johal • Mar 16, 2019

• Christchurch,
• Psychology,
• shooting

Today, I wanted to talk about how some reactions we might be feeling in the next few days as a result of the Christchurch terror attack can feel quite overwhelming and complicated. I wanted to talk about how this can be really uncomfortable, but quite common after large-scale events like this. I’ve recorded this in this video below, but you … Read More

Mental health in public life: Is the experience of politicians and how we make policy intertwined?

Sarb Johal • Sep 03, 2018

• Mental health,
• policy,
• politics

Many societies are experiencing significant increases in those reporting mental health difficulties and illnesses, but face systemic obstacles in helping their communities’ to deal with these problems. The WHO report on Mental health: New Understandings, New Hope identified mental health as possibly posing the most difficult and acute health care challenge of the twenty-first century. The report goes on to … Read More

What is the nocebo effect and why is it important? And what is a systematic review?

Sarb Johal • Aug 27, 2018

• nocebo,
• Psychology

In this Psychology Report, I talk with Rebecca Webster  who is based at King’s College in the University of London, UK.  In this conversation, we focus on Rebecca’s work on a systematic review of the ‘nocebo effect’ – what it is and how it might work.  R Webster: Yeah, so we all know what the placebo effect is, it’s … Read More

Is human language underpinned by gestures?

Sarb Johal • Jul 16, 2018

• gestures,
• language

  In this Psychology Report, I am interviewing renowned psychologist Emeritus Professor Michael Corballis. He has recently won the Rutherford Medal from the Royal Society of New Zealand for his work on asymmetry of the brain, but also his work on language, and that’s what I’m focusing on today in our interview. One view … Read More

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What are the possible psychological effects of being stuck in that cave?

Sarb Johal • Jul 06, 2018

• cave,
• disaster,
• distress,
• Psychology,
• Thailand

I was asked by the Science Media Centre for NZ to provide some commentary of the possible psychological and physiological consequences of being stuck in a cave (for an extended period of time). With reference to the situation in Thailand, this is clearly a rapidly evolving situation and decisions are being taken on the … Read More

Is there a link between dehydration and our experience of pain?

Sarb Johal • Jul 02, 2018

• hydration,
• pain,
• Psychology,
• Sport

 In this report, I talk with Dr Toby Mundel, senior lecturer in sport and exercise science at Massey University in New Zealand. Toby and his colleagues have been looking at the link between levels of hydration and how it affects pain perception. And this is important because … Read More