Definition[edit]

Crisis is often linked to the concept of stress. In occidental culture, the term is often used to suggest a negative
or fraught experience while in UK as a hazardous event and in oriental cultures like China it means danger and
opportunity (Chinese characters used are Wei and Chi). In general crisis is the situation of a complex
system (family, economy, society) when the system functions poorly, an immediate decision is necessary, but
the causes of the dysfunction are not immediately identified.[2]
• situation of a complex system
simple systems do not enter crises. We can speak about a crisis of moral values, an economical or
political crisis, but not a motor crisis.
poor function
The system still functions, but does not break down.

• an immediate decision is necessary to stop the further disintegration of the system.

• the causes are so many, or unknown, that it is impossible to take a rational, informed decision to reverse
the situation.
Crisis has several defining characteristics. Seeger, Sellnow, and Ulmer[3] say that crises have four defining
characteristics that are "specific, unexpected, and non-routine events or series of events that [create] high
levels of uncertainty and threat or perceived threat to an organization's high priority goals." Thus the first three
characteristics are that the event is
1. unexpected (i.e., a surprise)
2. creates uncertainty
3. is seen as a threat to important goals
Venette[4] argues that "crisis is a process of transformation where the old system can no longer be
maintained." Therefore the fourth defining quality is the need for change. If change is not needed, the
event could more accurately be described as a failure.
Apart from natural crises that are inherently unpredictable (volcanic eruptions, tsunami etc.)
most of the crises that we face are created by man. Hence the requirements of their being
'unexpected' depends upon man failing to note the onset of crisis conditions. Some of our
inability to recognise crises before they become dangerous is due to denial and other
psychological responses [5] that provide succour and protection for our emotions.
A different set of reasons for failing to notice the onset of crises is that we allow ourselves to
be 'tricked' into believing that we are doing something for reasons that are false. In other
words, we are doing the wrong things for the right reasons. For example, we might believe
that we are solving the threats of climate change by engaging in economic trading activity
that has no real impact on the climate. Mitroff and Silvers [6] posit two reasons for these
mistakes, which they classify as Type 3 (inadvertent) and Type 4 (deliberate) errors.
The effect of our inability to attend to the likely results of our actions can result in crisis.
From this perspective we might usefully learn that failing to understand the real causes of our
difficulties is likely to lead to repeated downstream 'blowback'. Where states are concerned,
Michael Brecher, based on case studies of the International Crisis Behavior (ICB) project,
suggested a different way of defining crisis as conditions are perceptions held by the highest
level decision-makers of the actor concerned:[7] 1. threat to basic values, with
a simultaneous or subsequent 2. high probability of involvement in military hostilities, and the
awareness of 3. finite time for response to the external value threat

Political crisis[edit]
See also: Constitutional crisis
See also: Category:Government crises.
Economic[edit]
Main articles: Economic crisis and Financial crisis
An economic crisis is a sharp transition to a recession. See for example 1994 economic
crisis in Mexico, Argentine economic crisis (1999–2002), South American economic crisis of
2002, Economic crisis of Cameroon. Crisis theory is a central achievement in the
conclusions of Karl Marx's critique of Capital.
A financial crisis may be a banking crisis or currency crisis.

Environmental[edit]
Crises pertaining to the environment include:

Environmental disaster[edit]
Main article: Environmental disaster
An environmental disaster is a disaster that is due to human activity and should not be
confused with natural disasters (see below). In this case, the impact of humans' alteration of
the ecosystem has led to widespread and/or long-lasting consequences. It can include the
deaths of animals (including humans) and plant systems, or severe disruption of human life,
possibly requiring migration.

Natural disaster[edit]
Main article: Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the consequence of a natural hazard (e.g. volcanic
eruption, earthquake, landslide) which moves from potential into an active phase, and as a
result affects human activities. Human vulnerability, exacerbated by the lack of planning or
lack of appropriate emergency management, leads to financial, structural, and human
losses. The resulting loss depends on the capacity of the population to support or resist the
disaster, their resilience.[8] This understanding is concentrated in the formulation: "disasters
occur when hazards meet vulnerability".[9] A natural hazard will hence never result in a
natural disaster in areas without vulnerability, e.g. strong earthquakes in uninhabited areas.
For lists of natural disasters, see the list of disasters or the list of deadliest natural disasters.

Endangered species[edit]
Main article: Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of
becoming extinct because it is either few in number, or threatened by changing
environmental or predation parameters. An endangered species is usually a
taxonomic species, but may be another evolutionary significant unit. The World Conservation
Union (IUCN) has classified 38 percent of the 44,837 species assessed by 2008 as
threatened.[10]

International[edit]
Main articles: International crisis and Crisis management
For information about crises in the field of study in international relations, see crisis
management and international crisis. In this context, a crisis can be loosely defined as a
situation where there is a perception of threat, heightened anxiety, expectation of possible
violence and the belief that any actions will have far-reaching consequences (Lebow, 7–10).

Personal[edit]
A personal crisis occurs when an individual can no longer cope with a situation.[11] This is
preceded by events of an extraordinary nature triggering extreme tension and stress within
an individual, i.e., the crisis, which then requires major decisions or actions to resolve. Crises
can be triggered by a wide range of situations including, but not limited to, extreme weather
conditions, sudden change in employment/financial state, medical emergencies, long-term
illness, and social or familial turmoil. Crises are simply a change in the events that comprise
the day-to-day life of a person and those in their close circle, such as the loss of a job,
extreme financial hardship, substance addiction/abuse and other situations that are life
altering and require action that is outside the "normal" daily routine. A person going through
a crisis experiences a state of mental disequilibrium, in which the ego struggles to balance
both internal and external demands.[12] In this case, said person resorts to coping
mechanisms to deal with the stress. Various coping mechanisms include:[13]

• High emotions (crying, physical withdrawal)

• Defence mechanisms (denial, repression)
• Making rash decisions
• Acting out
• Putting things on hold
In some cases, it is difficult for an individual undergoing a crisis to adapt to the situation. As it
is outside of their normal range of functioning, it is common that one endures a struggle to
control emotions. This lack of control can lead to suicidal tendencies, substance abuse,
trouble with the law and general avoidance of resources available for help. One such
resource used to aid an individual in crisis is their social support system, which can come in
the form of family, friends, coworkers, or health professionals. It is important that a support
system consists of people that the individual trusts. Although these support systems play a
crucial role in aiding an individual through a crisis, they are also the underlying cause of two
thirds of mental health crises.[13] The aforementioned mental health crises can include marital
issues, abandonment, parental conflict and family struggles.
In order to aid someone in a crisis, it is crucial to be able to identify the signs that indicate
they are undergoing an internal conflict. These signs, as well as the aforementioned coping
mechanisms, include:[11][14]

• Irrational and/or narrow thinking

• Lowered attention span
• Unclear motives
• Disorganized approach to problem solving
• Resistance to communication
• Inability to differ between large and small issues
• Change/alteration to social networks