Restoring Self in Community: Collective Approaches to Psychological Trauma after Genocide

Restoring Self in Community: Collective Approaches to Psychological Trauma after Genocide

Genocide--Psychological aspects

Laurie Anne Pearlman

Journal of Social Issues

Vol. 69

No. 1

2013

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Journal article

English

Restricted Access

Recovery from the profound negative psychological and spiritual effects of genocide is essential for individuals to live fulfilling lives, engage in reconciliation, and prevent future violence. This article discusses community approaches to trauma recovery that focus on individuals within their social context. It briefly identifies common psychological problems that follow genocide. It then presents constructivist self development theory (CSDT) as a foundation for understanding these effects and the RICH (Respect, Information, Connection, and Hope) framework, based in CSDT, for designing and assessing the effects of post-genocide psychosocial interventions. The article reviews three approaches to collective recovery: a multifamily group approach, a psychoeducational program focused on youth, and a public education program aimed to promote trauma recovery and prevent future violence. The RICH framework is applied to each approach.

Kristen Walker