This study examines the resilience of English and Polish populations to crises using a pair-by-association methodology, employing questionnaires with stimuli words of “WAR” and “PANDEMIC” in both languages, facilitated by the digital platform STIMULUS. The research focuses on participants’ emotional responses to these stimuli, aiming to identify patterns of resilience. This investigation stands out due to its innovative use of linguistically matched stimuli to explore cultural variations in crisis response dynamics. The analysis of responses from 800 participants (400 Polish, 400 English) reveals marked differences in emotional reactions between the two groups, indicative of varying resilience levels. Specifically, the dominant response among the English to “WAR” was “concern” (response rate of 0.1023), while for the Polish, it was “śmierć” (death) with a response rate of 0.3172. For the “PANDEMIC” stimulus, the most prevalent response among the English was “adaptation” (response rate of 0.1078), compared to “strach” (fear) among the Polish (response rate of 0.2018). These findings suggest that the English demonstrate greater resilience, adapting quickly and developing effective strategies to manage crises. In contrast, the Polish responses indicate a lower resilience, characterized by more fearful and fatalistic reactions. This research provides insights into cultural differences in crisis resilience, essential for designing targeted interventions.