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Political trauma and recovery in a protracted conflict: Understanding contextual effects.

2000; American Psychological Association; Volume: 6; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1207/s15327949pac0602_1

1532-7949

Cristina Jayme Montiel,

Peacebuilding and International Security

Psychologists have discovered useful therapeutic strategies to understand and heal the inner world of individuals traumatized by political violence. However, psychological approaches built on unspoken assumptions about context, present an incomplete therapeutic picture for individuals traumatized in protracted social conflicts. Because political environment and psychological well-being are bidirectionally related, situational issues need to be addressed. Four context-related propositions are presented. In a protracted war: (a) traumatizing experiences are not only episodic but also systemic, extending over many years; (b) context may also function as a source of healing; (c) healing efforts do not take place in war-free and comfortable contexts but rather in unsafe and impoverished conditions; and (d) trauma survivors are not only victims and effects, but also empowered transformers and causes of contextual change. Applications to Philippine experiences illustrate the 4 propositions. Further explorations ...