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The psychology of courage and bravery

Why is it that some people are able to keep calm in an emergency and do all the right things whilst others panic or freeze, not knowing what to do?

The adventurer and ultra-runner Alex Staniforth talks about his survival on Everest following the devastating Nepalese earthquake in 2015. Rachel Manning from Buckingham University considers why we do or don’t intervene in risky situations and in everyday life. And Patrick Tissington from Warwick University draws on the stories behind those awarded the Victoria or George Cross for bravery to suggest some of the best ways to manage our fear in allowing us to be more courageous. The programme is presented by Claudia Hammond and recorded at the Cheltenham Science Festival in June 2021.

Image: Rock climber clinging to a cliff
Credit: gregepperson/Getty Images

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Adrian Washbourne

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26 minutes

Last on

Sun 17 Apr 202211:32GMT
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