Dana Klisanin

Career

Research

Current studies

Klisanin's scholarship is characterized by a transdisciplinary attention to theory building, influenced by systems science, transpersonal studies, and integral theory. While much of her previous research has been situated at the nexus of psychology and future studies, more recent work is concentrated on existential risk.

In the field of existential risk, Kilsanin's research explores expanding the mental health paradigm from a focus on resilience to that of antifragility. Such expansion is necessary, Klisanin argues, to prepare the psyche for the impacts of climate change and other cascading global crises. The research draws upon antifragility described by Nicholas Nassim Taleb and research in post-traumatic growth. In the field of psychology, similarly, Klisinan has recently focused on the antifragile mindset and rewilding the human psyche.

Research history

While attending Saybrook University, Klisanin began researching the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) to promote the development of higher stages of human consciousness and planetary flourishing. She applied systems science and design theories and methodologies to design an impact media framework. Later, she began investigating the positive uses of the Internet and exploring "digital altruism", which she defined as "altruism mediated by digital technology", and divided it into three categories: everyday digital altruism, creative digital altruism, and co-creative digital altruism.

In 2009, after studying the characteristics of people who engaged in digital altruism, Klisanin defined a new form of the hero archetype, the "cyberhero", an individual who repeatedly uses digital technology to help other people, animals, and the planet, by contributing to world peace, social justice, environmental protection, and/or planetary stewardship.

In 2010, Klisanin applied Ken Wilber's integral theory, to her previous media framework, which she called "Integral media", and defined as the "conscious creation, use, and evaluation of media that aims to guide the evolutionary development of the body, mind, and spirit, in self, culture, and nature."

In the latter part of the 2010s, Klisanin studied the evolution of humanism in networked society, theorizing the concept of "collaborative heroism" to reference in-person and online activities that happen simultaneously and aim to achieve heroic goals. Reflecting on the global connectivity of the contemporary networked society, Klisanin defined heroism in terms of global goals such as those set out in the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the Earth Charter.

Game design and media consulting

In addition to her research, Kilsanin is known for the development of an interactive adventure game, Cyberhero League, designed to promote the cyberhero archetype in society. The game, selected as a winner of the World Future Society's BetaLaunch Technology competition, enables players to learn about and tackle global challenges through completing apprenticeships with partnering nonprofit organizations. She is the founder and CEO of Evolutionary Guidance Media R&D, Inc. and director of the MindLab at the Center for Conscious Creativity.

Major awards

In 2012, Klisanin received the Early Career Award for Scientific Achievement in Media Psychology from the Media Psychology division of the American Psychological Association for her research in positive media, digital altruism, and the cyberhero archetype. In 2017, she received the President's Outstanding Women Futures Award from the World Futures Studies Federation, for advancement of the philosophies, theories, methods and practices that strengthen and enrich the field of futures studies.

Professional contributions

Klisanin serves on the News Media, Public Education and Public Policy Committee, and the Media Watch Video Game Committee for the American Psychological Association's Division of Media Psychology.