# An emerging theoretical lens post global epidemic and turmoil: Psychological immunity

**Authors:** Yi Xiao, Wei Wang, Xiping Hu

PMC · DOI: 10.1016/j.dialog.2025.100271 · 2025-12-23

## TL;DR

This paper explores psychological immunity as a concept that helps individuals and societies cope with modern challenges like global conflicts and crises.

## Contribution

The paper integrates biological and psychological immunity into a unified theoretical framework for understanding resilience.

## Key findings

- There is growing evidence linking biological and psychological immunity processes.
- Psychological immunity has intra- and inter-mechanisms that support survival in both physical and metaphysical contexts.
- The paper highlights potential applications of psychological immunity in research, practice, and policy.

## Abstract

The concept of psychological immunity is not a new idea. In response to the escalating conflicts and chaos that characterizes this era, we conducted this study and reviewed psychological immunity theory from the perspective of psychiatry, psychology, and philosophy. We found that growing evidence has demonstrated the connection between biological and psychological immunity process. This indicates an integrated immunity system that has developed over time for survival in both physical and metaphysical sense. The process-oriented conceptualization of psychological immunity is presented, as well as its intra- and inter-mechanism. We also discussed research, practice, and policy potentials of this field and advocated for its protective application at individual and societal level. Limitations and future research were addressed accordingly.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** MEFV (MEFV innate immunity regulator, pyrin) [NCBI Gene 4210] {aka FMF, MEF, PAAND, TRIM20}, IL4 (interleukin 4) [NCBI Gene 3565] {aka BCGF-1, BCGF1, BSF-1, BSF1, IL-4}, IL9 (interleukin 9) [NCBI Gene 3578] {aka HP40, IL-9, P40}, CRP (C-reactive protein) [NCBI Gene 1401] {aka PTX1}, IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) [NCBI Gene 627] {aka ANON2, BULN2}, VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) [NCBI Gene 7422] {aka L-VEGF, MVCD1, VEGF, VPF}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, NGF (nerve growth factor) [NCBI Gene 4803] {aka Beta-NGF, HSAN5, NGFB}, CCL2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2) [NCBI Gene 6347] {aka GDCF-2, HC11, HSMCR30, MCAF, MCP-1, MCP1}
- **Diseases:** Bipolar Disorder (MESH:D001714), impulsivity (MESH:D007174), OCD (MESH:D009771), Depression (MESH:D003866), phobic (MESH:D010698), intestinal dysfunction (MESH:D007410), deaths (MESH:D003643), Catatonia (MESH:D002389), Covid-19 (MESH:D000086382), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (MESH:D001289), Tourette Syndrome (MESH:D005879), autoimmune diseases (MESH:D001327), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (MESH:D013313), trauma (MESH:D014947), inflammation (MESH:D007249), anxiety (MESH:D001007), Schizophrenia (MESH:D012559), Autism (MESH:D001321), dependency (MESH:D019966), mental illnesses (MESH:D001523)
- **Chemicals:** anti-inflammatory medicine (-)
- **Species:** Hungerfordia sp. U (species) [taxon 563713], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12813345/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12813345