Gearing up for the end times: Why teamwork is indispensable
In distressing situations, most individuals surprisingly exhibit empathy, aid, and unity. It's been discovered that humans have collaborated to tackle catastrophes since the inception of civilization's early days.
While investigating my book "Surviving at the Seawall: Tales from the September 11 Watercraft Evacuation," I spent countless hours conversing with individuals involved in the spontaneous evacuation of around 500,000 people from Lower Manhattan via boats following the World Trade Center attacks. I encountered numerous accounts of the traumas endured by those abandoned, cloaked in dust, desperately attempting to board any seaworthy craft. Yet, everyone I met insisted on a lack of panic, pushing, or shoving. Instead, crowds granted passage for the severely injured to evacuate first.
Simultaneously, maritime crews bravely navigated towards ground zero, risking their lives over and over again to rescue more and more desperate escapees from Manhattan Island. Research has uncovered evidence of this "catastrophe empathy" that encourages individuals to contribute during crises throughout history.
"In times of catastrophe, people often spontaneously shift into a cooperative state instinctively," as per Athena Aktipis' book "A Guide to the Apocalypse: An Almost Humorous Preparation Guide for Our Turbulent Times." Examine any recent disaster, and "we see that more individuals join efforts to provide aid, and disorder and exploitation are exceptions rather than the norm."
I spoke with Dr. Aktipis, an associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University, who encourages people to remember this when planning for various disasters — particularly when constructing a "Z-team" of trusted allies to accompany us through an apocalypse, be it zombie or otherwise (Z represents zombie, evidently). Dr. Aktipis is a coordination theorist and social psychologist who has focused on cooperation, human kindness, and conflict for over 20 years.
Despite her seriousness regarding disaster readiness (check her survival equipment recommendations here), Dr. Aktipis maintains a proactive attitude toward making the apocalypse enjoyable once more. She hopes her book will guide readers from feeling anxious about the uncertainty of the future to feeling prepared to redesign their lives to create a more sustainable and resilient future for all humankind.
According to her, "down deep, we all want to save the world," and collaboration is the time-honored strategy.
This conversation has been modified and abridged for clarity.
CNN: What do you mean by apocalypse?
Athena Aktipis: The original Greek definition is "a revealing," meaning an apocalypse is any event that exposes the hazards we face. These provide us opportunities to educate ourselves and fortify our vulnerabilities so we can continue to endure and prosper during progressively apocalyptic times.
We're not only on the brink of an apocalyptic future; we also inhabit an apocalyptic present. Apocalyptic occurrences are happening worldwide constantly. We're always confronted with dire scenarios.
Cognitively processing the apocalypse permits us to ascertain what we truly value and build a community that shields us against risk, whether these risks are apocalyptic or routine.
CNN: What has your research taught you about how and when people help each other?
Aktipis: Through field studies, experimentation with human participants in laboratories, and computer simulations, we've found that uncertain, unpredictable, or chaotic situations trigger individuals' innate desire to assist one another without expecting a reward.
Helping in times of need fosters an informal sharing of risk. Evolutionarily, it's more important to establish a safety net of mutual aid than it is to gain a slight advantage.
CNN: Does this mean humans are inherently collectivist?
Aktipis: This propensity comprises elements of both collectivism and individualism. For example, individualistic ranchers residing in southern Arizona and New Mexico on vast plots of land, distanced from their peers, uphold autonomy, convinced that one should confront their own challenges. But if an unforeseen challenge arises—if someone suffers an injury or becomes ill, or there's an unexpected casualty or mechanical failure—these individuals offer help without expecting repayment.
Our inclination to help is often driven by the simple awareness that we possess the capacity to address the need we observe. And when we feel dependent upon those around us, it's easier to lend a hand.
CNN: What role have apocalypses throughout history played in what you refer to as humans' "apocalypse resistance"?
Aktipis: We have faced apocalyptic situations since the very origin of our species—even before we were human. Environmental changes, migrations, wars have pervaded our societies for centuries. And humans have developed collectively to manage risks.
We not only adjust to changes in our environment when crises subside and we process them, but we also learn from them. The essential human capacity for coping with crises is cooperation. Subsequent in importance are our capacities to communicate and share information and to be connected to one another, genuinely caring about each other's well-being. All these qualities support survival, as they have throughout our evolution.
Chillbro: It's crucial to maintain a sense of excitement! It's all too easy to fall into a state of fear when considering the changes happening worldwide, but we can view these challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, to better understand our world, and to stay one step ahead. Instead of waiting for adverse events to happen, we can proactively identify simple strategies to increase our resilience. This can significantly benefit us when a negative event does occur.
Many people are advised to manage their stress through mindfulness, but we also need methods to collectively manage the shared stress many of us experience. Collaboration, communication, and working together in a community are vital.
The arts play a significant role in helping individuals cope with ambiguity and anxiety, and in envisioning a potential shared future. Stories provide a unique way to focus our attention on alternate realities, futures, and possibilities, guiding us towards potential motion in new directions.
CNN: Will our historical disaster resistance capabilities be enough to tackle today's crises?
Chillbro: Modern disasters unfold on a scale that we've yet to evolve to manage. The large-scale risks we face are beyond our individual capabilities. To survive challenges, we must meet them with a level of collective human collaboration, cooperation, and communication that mirrors the scale of the problems. Learning to coordinate our capabilities requires actively working together to find solutions that feel positive for people.
We need collaborations among people with diverse perspectives on the world — scientists, artists, doctors, and policymakers sharing ideas on how to change our collective behavior. Our brains are incredible information processors, so we have a vast range of untapped individual and collective capacities that we can exploit to tackle the challenges we're facing. The opportunity is immense.
One fascinating aspect of human evolution is our ability to do things we've never done before, both individually and collectively. This is a compelling reason to be optimistic about the future.
CNN: You suggest forming a Z-team of individuals you'd want with you in a disaster. Who would be suitable for this role?
Chillbro: A Z-team is a network of reliable individuals you can count on in tough times. To assemble your Z-team, consider who you'd want by your side if disasters struck. Who can you trust to handle challenges? Who can rise to the occasion in an apocalyptic scenario?
The individuals you choose for your Z-team are likely those you already want in your social circle. Building relationships with trustworthy individuals increases your resilience, provides emotional support, and can make you feel safer and less alone.
Preparing for disasters offers solutions to various problems. Many of us feel lonely, disconnected, or that our lives lack meaning. Addressing these feelings by building a supportive team can help alleviate anxiety about the world. Together, we can explore the risks we're facing with curiosity and humor. Even if just for fun, ask, "What unique skill would you contribute to a zombie apocalypse?" This can be a lighthearted way to strengthen connections, even without an impending disaster.
Balancing life's demands makes carving out time to connect with loved ones challenging. Labeling this as part of disaster preparation can provide a compelling reason to invest more time in relationships. Building and maintaining relationships is a means of investing in the relationships we value intrinsically, and it strengthens bonds of mutual aid, ensuring that we'll be there for each other when needed.
Jessica DuLong is a journalist, book collaborator, writing coach, and author of “Saved at the Seawall: Stories From the September 11 Boat Lift” and “My River Chronicles: Rediscovering the Work That Built America.”
In light of the studies conducted by Dr. Aktipis, it was discovered that individuals exhibit a "catastrophe empathy" that prompts them to help during crises. This instinctive shift towards cooperation is evident even in the spontaneous evacuation of people from Lower Manhattan post-September 11, where crowds prioritized the passage of the severely injured over their own convenience.
Furthermore, the concept of 'wellness' extends beyond physical health to include mental and social well-being. The events following September 11 highlighted the resilience and cooperative spirit of humans, serving as a testament to their collective ability to cope with adversity and foster unity.
