Wars have been part of human history for as long as we have records. As technology has progressed, humans have gained the capability to destroy themselves completely. The problem of war must be addressed from multiple perspectives (e.g., political, historical, sociological, biological, and psychological).
Dr. Dan Richard and Dr. Debbie Dong-Yuan Wang lead students on a study-abroad trip to Japan and China and conduct psychological research on how culture influences conflict resolution and responses to war. This project will broaden the views of students in their explanations for war. Students will experience cultural differences in thinking first hand, which will allow them to evaluate their own culture and how it influences their thinking.
By learning more about the causes of war and gaining a greater understanding about how one’s culture influences reasoning, students will be empowered to approach the problem of war from multiple perspectives which leads to a transformation of their actions related to war. Students will take this broad understanding and affect change in their community, influence their field of study, and make better decisions as leaders in the future.
The Beyond War study abroad course to Japan and China was first offered in 2006, then again in 2010. In 2014, students traveled to China only.
F. Dan Richard 