Journey through the heart of southeastern Europe, where history, culture, and neuroscience intertwine to create a unique tapestry of human relationships. This Study Tour offers an immersive exploration of the intricate dynamics that shape relationships, the influence of socio-cultural factors on communities, and the enduring effects that politics, cultural instability, religion, and war have on relationships. How do all of these dynamics come together to influence a person’s home? Set against the backdrop of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, two nations with rich, complicated histories and shared experiences, this tour delves deep into the profound interplay between the personal and communal connections we share.
Tour Objectives
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the neuroscientific foundations that underpin various social relationships, ranging from family bonds to romantic connections. Delve into the brain mechanisms involved in bonding, attachment, and emotional responses.
- Assess cultural variations in independence and interdependence. Analyze how variations in cultural norms and values impact brain activity and social relationships. How does cultural context shape individual's perceptions of relationships and the roles they paly within them?
- Examine post-conflict societies through a neuroscientific lens. Apply the neuroscientific understanding of social connections to examine the complexities of relationships in post-conflict societies. How does historical trauma and cultural dynamics influence an individual's ability to form and maintain relationships? And how does the healing process impact neural and psychological well-being?
- Investigate societal healing and resilience. Study the processes through which communities heal and rebuild in the aftermath of conflict. Evaluate how psychological and neurological factors contribute to community resilience emphasizing the role of interpersonal relationships in fostering recovery.
Possible Activities
- Hear from experts at an association dedicated to healing and reconciliation amongst veterans who fought on opposing sides of a way
- Visit a military barracks to discover how a country develops a single army after a civil war
- Visit an NGO focused on helping children to overcome ethnic tensions in a school environment
- Speak with a family that was directly affected by war. Learn from their stories of fleeing as refugees, overcoming a war, and returning home to the aftermath.