Dr. Noora Hassan
As the Gulf region experiences a sensitive chapter of geopolitical tension, it is natural that national attention turns to safety, stability, and preparedness. Our governments are steadfast, capable, and deeply trusted. But beyond strategic diplomacy and institutional readiness lies another pillar of national strength, one that is less visible but no less essential: the behavioural and psychological resilience of the population.
Periods of elevated alertness inevitably influence public sentiment. While no alarm need be sounded, it is both pragmatic and wise to understand the behavioural patterns that emerge in such environments. A nation’s strength lies not only in its systems of defence, but in the composure and cooperation of its people.
In behavioural science, we study how people respond to complex situations under pressure. Threat perception and personal efficacy are two key factors that determine public response. According to the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), individuals who perceive a high threat but lack confidence in how to manage it are more likely to disengage, ignore the issue, or become anxious.
However, if individuals believe the situation is serious and trust that they can take effective action, they are more inclined to comply with guidance, support collective goals, and remain emotionally stable. This model helps explain why public behaviour during sensitive times must be guided not just by information, but by reassurance, creating a sense of purpose, clarity, and agency. It is not only about knowing what to do, but believing one’s actions matter and contribute to a wider national effort.
Maintaining this mindset requires more than formal instructions and calls for behavioural readiness across the public sphere: calm communication, consistent social norms, emotional regulation, and psychological preparedness. It also requires institutions, communities, and households to work in quiet synchrony.
Mental resilience plays a central role here. Individuals who are mentally well are more attentive, responsive, and capable of cooperating with national guidance. Those who are under strain, by contrast, may become less consistent in their behaviour, even unintentionally. As stress accumulates, so too can fatigue, hypervigilance, or emotional numbness. Over time, this may reduce people’s ability to engage helpfully or to interpret safety-related messaging with the necessary focus.
That is why prioritising mental health during tense periods is a matter of public interest. Simple actions such as maintaining regular routines, managing screen time, creating moments of calm, staying physically active, and nurturing spiritual and/or religious connections all support emotional stability. These habits cultivate the internal conditions necessary for behavioural discipline.
Moreover, it is crucial that societies embrace a culture in which seeking support is not only accepted but encouraged. Just as a physically fit body responds more efficiently to external strain, a psychologically supported individual is better equipped to think clearly, maintain perspective, and behave in line with social expectations. In this regard, Gulf societies have several distinct advantages. Social cohesion is strong, national identity is deeply felt, and leadership enjoys a high degree of legitimacy and trust. These characteristics offer fertile ground for behavioural alignment.
The role of behavioural scientists is not to predict panic, but to reinforce patterns that are already working and identify where slight interventions can produce outsized benefits. One of those benefits emerges through behavioural modelling. When trusted figures in society, namely educators, community leaders, senior professionals, and frontline officials, demonstrate emotional steadiness and composure, they send a subtle yet powerful signal. Research has shown that people tend mirror the behaviour of those they respect. In moments of uncertainty, calmness is indeed contagious.
At the institutional level, communication strategies also matter. Behavioural science encourages a blend of clarity, empathy, and practicality. When public messages are consistent, straightforward, and framed around positive social values they are far more likely to be followed. Messaging should emphasise collective strength, shared responsibility, and achievable actions. However, this does not mean masking the truth. On the contrary, the public is more resilient than often assumed. But clarity must be paired with confidence: not only in the system, but in one’s own role within it. The more people see themselves as capable actors in a national effort, the more effectively they respond.
The Gulf region is not new to navigating complexity. From rapid economic transformation to dynamic international relations, this part of the world has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to adapt and lead with confidence. Today’s tensions are serious, but they are not unfamiliar. The difference lies in how prepared each segment of society is to play its part. Security is no longer the exclusive domain of the military or intelligence agencies, it also includes the psychological integrity of the population.
Strategic obedience, the kind rooted not in fear but in understanding, is a force multiplier. People who remain focused, resist provocation, avoid misinformation, and maintain their composure are not just protecting themselves, they are contributing to national stability. Emotional reactions are natural. But so too is the ability to regulate them, especially when given the right tools and reminders.
Mental resilience, therefore, is not a soft concept. It is a hardened layer of national defence. When citizens are mentally prepared, emotionally aware, and behaviourally aligned, they reinforce the very systems designed to protect them. This is not a theoretical suggestion; it is an observable, research-supported dynamic that has been validated in regions across the world. The Gulf today stands on a foundation of strength, built by visionary leadership and a deeply committed citizenry. By reinforcing behavioural readiness through composure, clarity, and connection, the region can continue to withstand any challenge with unity and resolve.
- Dr. Noora Hassan is a lawyer and scientist specialising in strategic defence consulting. Her expertise bridges law and science to address complex global security challenges.
Dr. Noora Hassan is a lawyer and scientist specialising in strategic defence consulting. Her expertise bridges law and science to address complex global security challenges.
