Associate Professor of Psychology Kate Corlew recently gave a presentation at the Maine Mental Health Symposium in Freeport, Maine. Corlew’s presentation centered on the study of Psychological Sense of Community (PSOC) and its impact on individual and community wellbeing, especially in vulnerable populations, and how Trauma-Informed Emergency Management (TEM) can shed light on the importance of community connections during crises for recovery and resilience. Corlew’s presentation summary can be found below.
In the field of Community Psychology, one strong area of study is psychological sense of community (PSOC) and its connection to individual and community wellbeing. Vulnerable and marginalized communities often have a different relationship to their community during times of calm; this can be exacerbated in times of crisis. Trauma-Informed Emergency Management (TEM) can provide insight into the necessity of community connection during crisis to aid in recovery and resilience.
Following this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Explain and apply the components of psychological sense of community (PSOC)
- Analyze the complex interactions of positive versus negative, and weak versus strong PSOC in vulnerable and marginalized populations
- Understand the principles of Trauma-Informed Emergency Management (TEM)
- Describe the role of community connection in crisis response and recovery
Dr. Laura Kate (Kati) Corlew is a Community and Cultural Psychologist whose expertise includes the psychology of disaster and climate change, and social justice issues such as racism and discrimination against the poor. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Maine at Augusta, she was a community researcher on disaster and climate change preparedness in the Pacific Islands region. She lives in Hampden, ME with her husband and two good dogs.