The Fear Toolkit

Working in a life-threatening environment requires more than brute strength and quick reflexes. It also requires complex psychological responses such as assessing risk, making quick decisions under uncertainty, and taking quick and decisive action. How does the mind handle these complex demands while under acute threats? What capabilities allow some people to perform better under threat? And can these capabilities be trained?

During “The Fear Toolkit” workshop, we address these questions using contemporary research from psychology and neuroscience. In doing so, we dispel common myths about the nature of fear and its relationship to performance. We also discuss the challenges of training for optimal performance under threat. While the workshop involves an element of presentations, the primary focus is on generating discussion among attendees. The ultimate goal is to lay the groundwork for informed and nuanced discussions among military personnel, first responders, and the individuals who train them.

These in-person workshops last approximately two hours. The facilitators/creators are Dr. Aaron Laycock (aaron.laycock@york.ac.uk) and Professor Cade McCall (cade.mccall@york.ac.uk), both from the University of York (UK). Please get in contact to learn more.