Concerns of Global Significance

Many people from a range of disciplines work together with global psychologists to help solve Concerns of Global Significance, some of the world’s most difficult and pressing challenges. Consider for a moment the many news stories of the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil. News stories may include information from medical professionals who discuss treatment and prevention of the virus.

There may also be news stories about the economic impact on local inhabitants or about new political legislation aimed at reducing the spread of the disease. Psychologists may be working with educators to stop the spread of misinformation in order to reduce panic and anxiety and to inform people of the best ways to protect themselves.

Global psychology is relatively new as a specialization within the discipline of psychology. Its distinct mission and breadth of professionals and scientific knowledge make it stand out from other specialties. It continues to attract psychologists who are interested in concerns  of Global Significance and understand that increased collaboration facilitates solutions to global issues that can be local, regional, or national in scope.

Your course text identifies three major concerns that are significant in the field of global psychology. These are intergroup conflict, threats to the natural environment, and risks to mental and physical health. These concerns do not stand alone. They are pervasive and cross many disciplines including: economics, politics, education, medicine, environmental science, and psychology.

To prepare for Concerns of Global Significance Discussion:

• Review Chapter 1 in your course text,Toward a Global Psychology: Theory, Research, Intervention, and Pedagogy. Pay particular attention to the following sections:

“Definitions and Distinctions” and “Three Concerns of Global Significance.”

• Consider how concerns of global significance can benefit from the application of global psychology and the role that global psychologists might play in addressing these concerns.
• Locate a credible news story (on television, in the newspaper, or on the internet) that addresses one of the three concerns of global significance described in your course text.
• Consider the risk to physical and mental health posed by the converging factors of the global concern you have selected.
• Consider how a global psychologist might have an impact on the concern described in the news story you selected and/or the role such a person might play in addressing the concern.

With these thoughts in mind:

Assignment

Post a brief summary of the news story that you selected that addresses one concern of global significance. Discuss the risk to physical and mental health posed by the converging factors of the global concern you have selected. Then explain how a global psychologist could have a positive impact on addressing the concern you selected.

 Note: Identify the global concern topic in the first line of your post. You will be asked to respond to a colleague who selected a global concern that you did not.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

Reference:

Course Text: Stevens, M. J., & Gielen, U. P. (2007). Toward a glob al psychology: Theory, research, intervention, and pedagogy. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Chapter 1, “Orientation to a Global Psychology”

Chapter 2, “International Perspectives on the History of Psychology”

Definitions and Distinctions” and “Three Concerns of Global Significance.”

• Consider how concerns of global significance can benefit from the application of global psychology and the role that global psychologists might play in addressing these concerns.
• Locate a credible news story (on television, in the newspaper, or on the internet) that addresses one of the three concerns of global significance described in your course text.
• Consider the risk to physical and mental health posed by the converging factors of the global concern you have selected.
• Consider how a global psychologist might have an impact on the concern described in the news story you selected and/or the role such a person might play in addressing the concern.