Among the keynote speakers of the Behaviour in Crisis Lab 2026 Annual Conference – Solidarity as a Social Response to an Era of Crisis will also be Professor Nataša Jokić‑Begić from the University of Zagreb, a distinguished scholar in clinical psychology and mental health, whose work focuses on how individuals function under conditions of uncertainty and crisis.
In her research, Professor Nataša Jokić‑Begić examines the cognitive and emotional mechanisms that shape psychological well-being, with particular attention to how contemporary social challenges affect younger generations. Her work explores how increasing uncertainty, global threats, and constant exposure to social comparison influence the ways in which individuals perceive themselves, the world, and the future.
At the Behaviour in Crisis Lab 2026 Conference, Professor Jokić‑Begić will deliver a keynote lecture entitled “How about growing up in times of uncertainty? Let’s ask an expert”, drawing on Aaron T. Beck’s classical concept of the cognitive triad. The lecture will address the extent to which negative beliefs about the self, the world, and the future—traditionally associated with clinical populations—are becoming increasingly characteristic of the everyday experience of younger generations.
Particular attention will be given to the impact of growing up in conditions of global uncertainty on mental health, as well as to the role of intergenerational solidarity in counteracting these tendencies and supporting psychological resilience.
Abstract
This lecture explores how Aaron T. Beck’s cognitive triad — negative beliefs about the self, the world, and the future — may no longer be limited to clinical populations, but increasingly reflects the developmental context of younger generations. Growing up in conditions of global uncertainty and constant social comparison, many young people today find it more plausible to see themselves as not good enough, the world as dangerous, and the future as uncertain. The lecture will discuss how intergenerational solidarity can help to address these patterns and support resilience.
Key Questions
- Are negative beliefs about the self, the world, and the future still signs of vulnerability — or are they becoming a realistic response to contemporary conditions?
- How can intergenerational solidarity contribute to better mental health outcomes for younger generations?
