Definition(s)
Psychological Consequence
Effect of an incident, event, or occurrence on the mental or emotional state of individuals or groups resulting in a change in perception and/or behavior.
Sample Usage: A psychological consequence of the disease outbreak could include the reluctance of the public to visit hospitals, which may make it more difficult for experts to control the outbreak.
Annotation: In the context of homeland security, psychological consequences are negative and refer to the impact of an incident, event, or occurrence on the behavior or emotional and mental state of an affected population.
Source: DHS Risk Lexicon, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2010 Edition. September 2010 Regulatory Guidance