Survival Mentality: The Psychology of Staying Alive

By: Nancy Zarse, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Professor Nancy Zarse

Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Have you ever wondered how you could possibly survive a physical assault or imagined what you would do if someone followed you in a dark parking lot? Most likely you have - it’s human nature to wonder. Most of us never get past those theoretical questions because we just don’t want to think about it. But what if we did? In Survival Mentality: The Psychology of Staying Alive, you’ll learn how to prepare now to give yourself the very best chance of surviving a life-threatening emergency.

When we hear about someone surviving a great challenge, we often hear that the person “rose to the occasion”. But in fact, psychologists find that people do not rise to the occasion. In moments of terror, people revert to their lowest level of training and preparation. Knowing that, the trick is to bring up your “lowest level” by continually improving your training and preparation, practicing for survival now, and building the resilience that will sustain you in times of adversity.

In this course, you’ll learn to identify and strengthen specific psychological factors to give yourself the best possible chance of survival, no matter what type of critical incident you face. Among other elements, Professor Zarse discusses the importance of internal locus of control, identifying and acting on instincts, managing emotions, and understanding the power of your capabilities.

In Survival Mentality: The Psychology of Staying Alive, you’ll not only explore survival skills and strategies, but you’ll also hear the stories of individuals who used those techniques to survive real-world situations. Through the details of their stories, Professor Zarse helps you identify the psychological factors that served them best.

Many of the survivors that are discussed in this course had no specific survival training, but their life experiences had helped them build significant psychological strengths. These survivors had what it took. In this course, you’ll learn that you, too, can build what it takes to survive in a crisis.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 The Great Courses (P)2020 The Teaching Company, LLC

This is a stark look at survival.

Professor Nancy Tarde demonstrates how she has put her knowledge to use in her own life and survival. She also shares how others have coped with adversity .

Highly sourced and incredibly practical

This is an excellent course with very practical insights into the mentality of survival both physically but also emotionally that can be applied to many aspects of life, business and relationships. I was intrigued by the topic and was hopeful that it could add insights into work I am doing in the area of Natural Language Processing and Sustainability of Foundations, Endowments and Family Offices- the course did not disappoint. This highly sourced and incredibly well-researched course added excellent insights into the work I am doing around group dynamics. In particular, the orientation of Internal vs. External Locus of Control is a powerful insight with many practical applications. I highly recommend this course and found it to be well worth the time and an excellent value.

Fabulous course for everyone!

As a veteran and a first responder for many years, I found the content of this course to be very valuable and refreshing in its presentation. The course is presented in an easily understood manner yet covers many complex topics/situations. As a life long learner I thoroughly enjoyed the material presented in this course and I will employ many of the strategies and techniques for the rest of my life. Well Done Dr. Zarse.

Mandatory Reading for Law Enforcement and Military

This audio alongside LTC Dave Grossman’s “Bulletproof Mind” complement each other. A great OJT audio book for the law enforcement and military disciplines. Add a round table discussion with your peace officers and/or soldiers to reinforce the self instruction.

Amazing listen! Especially right now

I love the terms she uses and examples. This really motivates and validates a lot of things I practice. Thank you right now we need encouragement most all and this book takes your head out of that place of defeat. Love it love. Going to share with my kids 17 and 19.

Good Compendium of Lesser* Motivators

And a useful model of reality (among many). If it is official, then it helps take the decision burden off of officers facing difficult situations.

*For the Ultimate Motivator (still there when lesser motivators have played themselves out), see the Philosophy of Broader Survival. It will be the philosophy of an enlightened future.

Solid Information

A great primer to start a journey for preparing your mind for the unknown incident.

Great information for survival-minded people

This is an excellent lecture series with real life stories, examples dealing with the psychology of survival. I think this course should be a must for any law enforcement. firefighter or military personnel. It is great preparation for anyone. Thank you Dr. Zarse.

Survive. To Thrive

straight Talk...No chaser. when you feel cornered, under physical, verbal or spiritually attacked, be prepared. When you feel unworthy, defeated, cornered, it's the resilience that gets you through. Never, ever, ever give up. This concise book with real life examples of folks overcoming adversity that works.

Good advice

This series of lectures is interesting and contains good advice that can help in a survival situation. The lecturer has a grating voice. Also, a lot of the points were repetitive. The survival stories are interesting and informative. I think this is well worth listening to, despite the minor irritations.