Psychology Newsletter of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and : Peace Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association

Volume 16, Number 2, ISSN 1935 – 4894 • fall/WINTER 2007

Don’t Lay Down the Word

is worthy of our time, don’t lay down Peacea conversation, Don’t lay down the word a sharing of our images, the word Breathing in, breathing out, Slowly, carefully, PeaceUnrealistic, impossible, idealistic… laying down the fear. No, no, no, I plead. Peace is possible. is worthy of our time Calm meadows, Don’t lay down the word wandering streams, Converse with me. trusting someone. Don’t lay down the word. Paths marked by stones Pick it up, look at it longhand the circles, the connections, in the wilderness, is worthy of our time, the loops, the backtracks, the possibilities… placed with love for a conversation, those unknown who Water at seashore a sharing of our images, rhythmically coming, going. share the passion. breathing in, Its beauty is there, appreciated breathing out, by the passerby—or not. Peaceslowly, Its being is enough. carefully, Stories shared, laughter laying beside a campfire or around the kitchen table. down Conflicts shared; the each believing passionately, fear. each willing to hear, each believing the hard work of respect is worthy of the time. – Kathleen Lynch Conway Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology  P � From the Editor

Contents The oppressed do not appreciate JW P. Heuchert, Editor From the Editor...... 2 our neutrality. Message from the President...... 3 “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, Presidential Reflections...... 5 you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and Although big business benefits most from the Exciting Beginnings...... 6 you say that you are neutral, the mouse will , our whole society has benefited through Book Review...... 7 not appreciate your neutrality.” security and overall improved economic activ- Is Peace Possible...... 8 ity. We should accept the responsibility that – Archbishop Desmond Tutu accompanies those benefits and the responsi- Hear the Missing Voices...... 10 he end of the war in Iraq doesn’t seem bility for what is done in our name. It is un- Nobel Peace Laureates...... 12 imminent, and with all the saber-rattling pleasant but vital to remember that “Terrorism to invade Iran, I’ve been desperately is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of Everything I Need To Know...... 13 T the rich” (Peter Ustinov). How can we respond searching for words that will make the pen Peace Restoration...... 14 mightier than the sword. In that search I’ve to this (mostly) involuntary complicity? As found words of wisdom from others, used lib- psychologists, and peace psychologists in par- Special Supplement: erally in this editorial. Desmond Tutu reminds ticular, we should use all our professional (and personal) skills and knowledge to work for Psychological Services After a Disaster us that we dare not be neutral in any situation of oppression—the stakes are too high. Objec- peace. We are the professionals best equipped to remind our society of Mother Theresa’s The Aftermath of Katrina...... 15 tively, we can see the war is tremendously cost- ly—about 4,000 U.S. soldiers killed, 60,000 words: “If we have no peace, it is because we Second Responders...... 16 wounded, and almost $500,000,000,000 spent have forgotten that we belong to each other.” We Through the Looking Glass...... 22 so far. It’s even more costly to the people of belong to each other; everyone in the world is part of the global family—Iraqis and Ameri- Grass Roots Mental Health ...... 27 Iraq—an estimated 700,000 deaths, 4 million refugees, with tremendous infrastructure dam- cans alike. As peace psychologists we should Helping Children Post Katrina...... 31 age and contamination. Multiply these figures be (at the very least) the conscience of APA many times over to calculate the long-term and the larger society. We should redouble our Prison Issues...... 35 costs of individual, community, and struc- efforts to end this war, and ensure that peace prevails in the future. As I step down after A Visit to Japan...... 37 tural rehabilitation. This also doesn’t include the impact and devastation on families and five years as the editor ofPeace Psychology, my Save the Date...... 38 loved ones affected by this war’s death and hope is that we will all remember that “Peace is possible” and that we will all “think it, plan Going to Gitmo...... 39 destruction, nor the loss of potential of those killed or incapacitated. For example, the U.S. it, (and) do it”! Peace in the Face of Terror...... 40 Army estimates up to 25 percent of soldiers Announcements...... 41 We have yet another bumper edition of Peace who served in Iraq display symptoms of serious Psychology with ample evidence of our mem- COR & Other Reports...... 42 mental-health problems. One can just imag- ber’s work for peace. Julie Levitt has edited ine the impact on the mental health of the Letters...... 45 an extensive supplement on the effects of Iraqis trapped in this war, with no tour of duty hurricane Katrina; we have research reports, Directory...... 47 that will be over soon and no safe haven to reports from office bearers, and a lot of other return home to. material. In fact, we had so much material for Any admiration and trust that the rest of the this edition that we had to postpone including This edition of Peace Psychology world had for the USA has been squandered. many photos, our usual center-spread poster, was produced by: If only we heeded the words of Martin Luther and more, to the next edition. But, on a posi- tive note, we are now a registered publication JW P. Heuchert, Editor King who said, “Somehow, we must transform the dynamics of the world power struggle from with our own ISSN number, for those of you [email protected] the negative nuclear , which no one can who need that. Judy Stainbrook, Design Director & win, to a positive contest to harness humanity’s Please submit your thoughts, announcements, Associate Editor; [email protected] creative genius for the purpose of making peace short research reports, reactions, responses and and prosperity a reality for all the nations of the contributions for our next edition by send- Beth Heuchert, Assistant Editor world.” The dividend of peace could mean ing your submissions to the address below by [email protected] prosperity for all, but instead we see the big- March 15, 2008. gest transfer ever of money from our treasury Julie Levitt, Special Guest Editor to the private sector. This war seems to bring Peace to you, [email protected] prosperity primarily to the U.S. and big busi- ness. Record profits are being made by the Author contributions are acknowledged in military and other industries, with increased the bylines. The opinions of individual employment in military-related areas—a sub- authors do not necessarily represent those stantial economic injection from the tax cof- of Division 48. fers to the private sector. This $500 billion in taxes could have been used for community JW P. Heuchert, Editor

development, cancer research, education… [email protected] Published by Division 48 of the American used for the common good. Instead, it is now Dept. of Psychology, Allegheny College Psychological Association. transferred largely into private hands for war- 520 N. Main St., Meadville, PA, 16335, USA Printed by Allegheny College Printing Services. related products and services.

 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Message from the President

MI-EGO News Complex or We Have Met Our Enemies Daniel M Mayton II, President, and They are Us and Them Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: APA Div. 48

President Eisenhower warned When all four aspects of the expanded to protect U.S. economic interests in the us about the dangers of the military-indus- Middle East following a war with Iraq res- military-industrial complex are trial complex during his farewell address to onated with some in the oil industry and the nation. Were he alive today, I think he combined, it seems clear that a new some in the military who believed their would be much more concerned about how interests would be aided also. Certainly name is needed to better describe this the danger he alluded to has expanded and many in the defense industry did not view increased in power. Our military capabili- 21st-century phenomenon. the Iraq war as a way to sell their deadly ties are greater in nearly every respect since widgets, but undoubtedly some did. Others 1961. The U.S. armament industry sup- Let’s reframe this concept as the MIlitary in the defense industry supported the inva- plies this larger military capability, plus it Economic GOvernmental News complex sion to support their friends in the military has been the leading producer and exporter or the MI-EGO (pronunciation: my ego) or the government. The post 9-11 climate of weapons around the world for decades. News complex for short. The effect of the created fear among many members of Con- While this causes considerable trepida- MI-EGO News complex can involve selfish gress, members of the news media, and the tion, the military-industrial complex now and self-serving actions but what makes it so general citizenry. Fear of appearing weak, encompasses much, much more. The re- powerful and difficult to control is that many being blamed if there were another attack lation between the military and industry of those who help to perpetuate it are good on the U.S., fear of losing the next elec- has expanded to include more aspects of people who do so inadvertently and/or with tion, and/or concern for political power our economy, including Wall Street and good intentions. and future political deals led to many in divested global corporations. Two addi- A brief look at the lead up to the invasion Congress to give President Bush approval tional components added to this mix are of Iraq in 2003 can demonstrate the power to use military force against Iraq. Relation- the government and the media. The gov- of the MI-EGO News complex. Why did we ships with military personnel and lobbyists ernment connects with the military and the invade Iraq? Just some of the reasons given also played a role in Congress supporting economy in numerous ways. Engaging our for our invasion include oil, armament in- the invasion. military troops in conflicts, funding proxy dustry, weapons of mass destruction, poor Some in the news media reported the admin- armies, and approving/encouraging arms intelligence, fear because of 9-11, Bush sales are just some of the ways that the gov- istration’s position because they believed it family dynamics concerning Saddam Hus- to be the best approach to take in stopping a ernment supports this escalating complex. sein, politicians who feared looking weak, The revolving doors between the military future terrorist attack in the U.S. Others did U.S.-Israeli interests, need for a military so because they did not want to be described and the government and the military and base in the region, media as cheerleader, economic interests of the military add a as unpatriotic. Some publishers and editors or an unengaged electorate. The MI-EGO were probably concerned about the pressure labyrinth of interconnections that can hide news complex pushed all of the above rea- intentions and interests. the government regulators and the FCC sons as the case for war was made. might apply if they did not support the presi- The news media is a relatively new aspect of Many in the government were eager to es- dent. As a result of these and other reasons, this complex. While a free press is critically tablish a major military base in that part the media for the most part uncritically sup- important for a fully functioning democracy, of the world outside of Saudi Arabia (see ported President Bush in the lead up to the a manipulated or controlled press can work report of the Project for the New Ameri- U.S. invasion. Fear among Americans made to support a military-industrial complex. can Century at http://www.newamerican- many want to do something no matter what Advertising agencies now produce infomer- century.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses. it was to get back for 9-11. The repetition of cials masquerading as news, newspaper edi- pdf). Staff, signatories and supporters of 9-11 and Saddam Hussein in administration torial writers are paid by the government, this document included many in the Bush speeches influenced 70 percent of Americans and journalists are imbedded with military administration (i.e. Dick Cheney, Donald to believe that Iraq was somehow behind the units. All have been employed to gain sup- Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, John Bolton, 9-11 attacks. High profile citizens like NFL port for governmental policy. Each compo- and Richard Armitage) as well as people in football player Pat Tillman gave up a lucra- nent is intertwined with the other three as the news media (i.e. William Kristol) and tive salary to volunteer to fight in the “war each plays a role in the financial well being the economic world (i.e. Steve Forbes). on terror.” Tillman was used by the govern- of the others. The prospect of a permanent military base ment and military to rally support. I could

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology  go on with the many linkages and intercon- work as contractors for the Department of First, we need to listen nections between the military, economic, Defense. A strong ethical statement about and try to understand all sides governmental, and news media regarding psychological ethics may directly affect the the invasion of Iraq. I’m sure you could, as livelihood of this group or acquaintances of a conflict. well. The interrelationships within the MI- with whom they have strong allegiances. EGO News complex provided a multifaceted Other psychologists do not want a strong Gandhi referred to this as or the push toward an invasion of Iraq that created statement because it might antagonize an search for the truth. Peace psychologists a very difficult momentum to stop. administration that is capable of granting need to find common ground with mili- prescription privileges to psychologists. If tary personnel and their families. This is At the recent APA convention in San Fran- APA angers this administration, prescrip- accomplished by actively developing rela- cisco, Marc Pilisuk spoke about the benefi- tion privileges, behavioral science research tionships on issues that resonate with all ciaries of war and global violence and to the dollars, and other actions supportive of psy- parties. For instance, at APA we saw some heart of this complex we are facing. His new chology will take longer to achieve. military interrogators share the views of book on this topic, Who Benefits from Global peace psychologists on the use of torture. Violence and War: Uncovering a Destructive Many other reasons for supporting or not Many in the military and many veterans System, should be an interesting read, and supporting a strong moratorium statement are concerned about the Iraq war as being I look forward to getting a copy. However, do not involve the MI-EGO News com- unjust or are concerned about highly-paid we don’t need to look at his analysis of Hal- plex. For instance, some are concerned independent contractors/security forces. liburton, Carlisle, Bechtel, and other groups about such a statement based on ethical Common ground can be useful in leverag- to see some of the dynamics of the MI-EGO grounds, and others are concerned about ing one component of the MI-EGO News News complex in action. While I have gen- the narrowness of a proposal that does not complex to reduce its power. erally been on the outside looking in to the address cruel, inhuman, and degrading Board meetings and the Council meetings treatment in other settings like domestic The improved relationship with military within APA via reports, minutes, and emails, prisons. Others try to do the best they can personnel and their families should identify I can see the dynamics of the MI-EGO News to move toward a stronger stance even if common issues to address. The success of complex are present. A little self-reflection it is not what they optimally want. Some a nonviolent action depends upon setting might be informative. psychologists have been very bothered by a clear, concrete, achievable goal that can their involvement in a process that seems be reached in a reasonable amount of time. Concern about the ethics of psychologists to compromise their personal and profes- Ackerman and Kruegler (1994) note that a involved in torture and interrogations has sional ethics and opt out in protest (i.e. good goal should preserve the vital interests been a difficult and divisive topic since the Michael Wessells regarding the PENS and of the nonviolent campaigners and reso- 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Presidential Linda Woolf regarding the Moratorium nate with and attract support from societ- Task Force on Psychological Ethics and and other 2007 activities). ies affected by the conflict. In addition to National Security (PENS) report (2005), an overarching goal, intermediate goals are the Resolution Against Torture and Other The involvement of the news media is the also important to help assess the progress Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment major exception of the application of the in a campaign. From a policy perspective, or Punishment (2006), the Reaffirmation MI-EGO News complex to the APA re- nonviolent resisters need to ask whether of the American Psychological Association sponse to torture and interrogations. With the campaign is worth pursuing and how Position Against Torture and Other Cruel, few exceptions the press has been less than we will know we’ve succeeded or failed. A Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Pun- kind in its reporting of the APA’s position sound approach would follow a system like ishment and Its Application to Individuals on this issue. Even without the support of Ackerman & Kruegler’s (1994) or Burrowes’ Defined in the United States Code as “En- the press, the multifaceted aspects of the (1996), use sound principles and once the emy Combatants” (2007), and the failed MI-EGO complex have been sufficient to policy to engage in the campaign is estab- Moratorium on Psychologist Involvement thwart passage of a strong ethical stance lished, engage in operational planning to in Interrogations at US Detention Centers and to prevent a clear, positive response in specifically outline the concrete steps to for Foreign Detainees (2007) have resulted the press. achieve the desired goals before any actions in heated emotional debate fueled in part are taken. by the MI-EGO News complex. Getting Peace psychologists need to spend more APA Council to pass a strong resolution time in an effort to reduce the power of the President Eisenhower issued his warning, to establish a clear moral and ethical high MI-EGO News complex. Many avenues but he also gave us hope. He said, “I like ground for psychologists has been impos- might be pursued to begin to accomplish to believe that people in the long run are sible to date, although there has been some this, and I welcome suggestions and encour- going to do more to promote peace than our movement. age peace psychologists to develop as many governments. Indeed, I think that people approaches as possible. want peace so much that one of these days Progress failure has not been a result of a governments had better get out of the way monolithic conspiracy. As I see it, this has Let me offer one approach. In many re- spects peace psychologists and the military and let them have it.” Let’s make today one been the result of many elements of the of those days. MI-EGO News complex. First, a very large are at odds with each other. We might ex- number of psychologists, including APA trapolate many approaches from nonvio- leadership, are employed by the military, in- lence theory and nonviolent activism that telligence agencies, the defense industry, or seem appropriate.

 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Presidential Reflections Is Peace Possible, continued from page 9 world in which they have limited power to achieve any desires they may have for world On the Convention in San Francisco peace. It is also interesting that although & some of our own previous research showed Society Activities greater support for invasion in domestic samples born in the U.S. to parents born in the U.S. than in international samples (e.g. Daniel M Mayton II Malley-Morrison, & Castanheira, in press), President, Division 48 greater faith in the attainability of peace in ach summer I look forward During the past six months and during the our international sample was only marginal- to the peace psychology program of convention, your Council Representatives, ly significantly higher than that in the U.S. speakers, symposia, round tables, and Corann Okorodudu and Judy Van Hoorn, sample. It is possible that, in general, there E are many people who would like to see peace posters at the APA convention. As with were busy working to pass a Moratorium the more than 18 conventions since the So- on Psychologist Involvement in Interroga- but are not overly optimistic that it can be ciety for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and tions at U.S. Detention Centers for Foreign obtained. Moreover, many of the recom- Violence was formed, this year I was not Detainees, and when it was clear it had mended pathways to peace indicate that disappointed! I want to thank Catherine little chance of passing, they worked on many respondents recognize the complex Byrne, program chair, and her reviewers the wording and passage of the best sub- interdependence of political, economic, and who put together such a fine peace psychol- stitute motions at Council. Their energy, social justice initiatives that extend beyond ogy program, plus Linda Wolff and all those diligence, and leadership in moving APA national boundaries and call for cooperation who put together the excellent mini-con- toward a more ethical position regarding within the global community. vention on torture and interrogation. My psychologists’ involvement with torture major regret was that there were so many and interrogation are exemplary. APA still References Ashy, M. A., & Malley-Morrison, K. (2007). concurrent sessions that I could not attend has a way to go on these issues, and I know Attitudes towards war in the Middle East from them all. If you were not able to be in San Corann and Judy will continue to push for an extremism model perspective. International Francisco this past August, be sure to look higher moral ground. Do thank them for Psychology Bulletin, 11, 8-12. for the many highlights from the conven- their efforts when you get a chance. Biaggio A., De Souza, L., & Martini, R. (2004). tion throughout this newsletter. Attitudes toward peace, war and violence in five Julie Levitt, 2008 Program Chair, and countries. Journal of , 1, 179-189. So far this year, the Society for the Study Debby Ragin, President-elect, have put Hakvoort, I., & Hägglund, S. (2001). Concepts of of Peace, Conflict, and Violence’s accom- together the call for presentations for next peace and war as described by Dutch and Swed- plishments have been substantial. The Re- year’s convention in Boston. Check out the ish girls and boys. Peace and Conflict: Journal of cruitment, Retention, and Public Relations specifics and submit a proposal to present Peace Psychology, 7, 29–44. Committee has continued to develop better your research or peace activities! Heuchert, JW P. (2006, Fall/Winter). From the editor. Peace Psychology, 15, 2. methods for making data- based decisions. Our Society’s increased linkages to other Malley-Morrison, K., Daskalopoulos, M., & You, H-S. (2006, winter). International perspectives divisions within APA are reflected in the on governmental aggression, International addition of the new liaisons [Ethel Tobach Psychology Reporter, 10 (1), 19-20. (Div. 6, Behavioral Neuroscience & Com- � Malley-Morrison, K., Daskalopoulos, M., parative Psychology), Judy Kuriansky (Div. Gefter, J., Wenger, J., Hashim, K., et al. 17, Counseling Psychology), Deana Beech (2006). International perspectives on war and (Div. 19, Military Psychology), Eileen peace. Peace Psychology, 15(1), 6-7. Borris (Div. 36, Psychology of Religion)] Malley-Morrison, K., Castanheira, H. (in press). with others still pending. We have agreed Attitudes toward state aggression in adults from the United States and Spain. International to co-sponsor two conferences that will Psychology Bulletin. be of interest to our members. The Sum- Myers-Bowman, K. S., Walker, K., & Myers- mit on Violence and Abuse in Relation- Walls, J.A. (2005). Differences between war and ships will be held on Feb. 28-29, 2008 in peace are big: Children from Yugoslavia and the Bethesda, Maryland. More information can United States describe peace and war, peace be obtained from Debby Ragin (ragind@ and conflict.Journal of Peace Psychology, 11, mail.montclair.edu). The Evidence-Based 177–198. Practices for Ethnic Minorities Conference Oppenheimer, L.J.T. & Kuipers, I. (2003). Filipino children’s understanding of peace. Peace & Con- will be held in Washington D.C. on March flict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 9, 235-257. 13 and 14, 2008 following the APA State Woolf, L. M. (2006, Fall/Winter). Message from the Leadership Conference. Contact Eduardo President: Marketing Peace. Peace Psychology, 15, 4. Morales at [email protected] for more information. Please put these on your cal- Helena Castanheira, Michael Corgan and endar and plan to attend if you can. Kathleen Malley-Morrison can be contacted at Boston University, Boston, Mass.

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology  EXCITING BEGINNINGS Deborah Fish Ragin President-Elect, Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: APA Division 48

hat an interesting time to be a New York Graduate Center, Department and professional with his responsibilities as member of Division 48. And, of Psychology. In his over 30 years as a re- a person seeking meaning and purpose.” Wwhat an honor it is for me to searcher and activist in the field, Dr. Freud- serve as your president-elect to help guide enberg has addressed issues pertaining to Doctors Freudenberg’s and Moghaddam’s the Division in the next several years. community and individual violence, health work help to frame our discussion of peace and health policy and incarcerated youth. and social justice, which will include issues I wish to call your attention to two impor- Dr. Freudenberg’s comments when accepting relevant to both domestic and internation- tant deadlines for upcoming events. But his award explain how his work addresses the al concerns. I am pleased to announce that first, I would be remiss if I did not extend my issue of social justice: both award winners have accepted invita- congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Di- tions to speak at the 2008 convention. vision 48 Council of Representatives Cor- “…In my work with incarcerated adolescents ann Okorodudu and Judith Van Hoorn, and and adults I have come to believe that the distinc- We invite you, members of Division 48, to our Division Past President Linda Woolf tions between victim and perpetrator of violence to submit your proposals also for the 2008 for their outstanding presentations on the are often hard to draw. Unless we better iden- convention. This year we are accepting use of psychologists in military interroga- tify and take on the social roots of the violence submissions in the form of papers, posters, tions involving torture at the 2007 APA that is so pervasive in our jails these institutions roundtable discussions and symposium that mini-convention in San Francisco. Those will continue to be more a cause than a solu- showcase your work on peace and social jus- who attended the sessions may agree that tion to continuing cycles of violence that afflict tice. We include in this theme work that the presentations were stimulating, thought our country. Whether this continuing violence is explores education, health care, economic provoking, and very informative. One goal caused by the inmates who return to communi- disparities, interpersonal, community and of the mini-convention was to inform APA ties without help for the drug, mental health or ethnic conflicts. We believe that our inter- members about the current procedures that other problems that brought them to jail or by the disciplinary focus will appeal to researchers allow for the use of psychologists in military correctional officers who go to Abu Ghraib in and activist from other divisions and dis- interrogations. I commend Corann, Judith Iraq already acclimated to a culture of violence ciplines as well, so please feel free to share and Linda for presentations that helped and abuse does not matter so much.” this call for proposals with your colleagues. educate the APA membership on the ethi- I am particularly pleased to announce that cal, moral and professional issues pertaining Dr. Anthony Marsella, who presented the this year we have two outstanding program to the use of psychologists in military inter- 2007 Lifetime Achievement award to Dr. chairs who are ready to assist you with your rogations involving torture, and for their Fathali Moghaddam, identified the unique proposals for the 2008 convention. Feel continued work on this issue. contributions and work of Dr. Moghad- dam to social justice in these words: “… free to contact our Program Chair, Dr. Julie As for upcoming events, during Fathali was born in Iran. He is a Shite. He Levitt ([email protected]) or our Pro- the 2007 convention we also got a “sneak earned a BS in Psychology from Liverpool gram Co-Chair, Dr. Petra Hesse (phesse@ preview” of the Division’s program for the University in 1974, long after the Beatles wheelock.edu) for further information and 2008 Convention in Boston, Massachu- had made the city. In 1979, he received guidance. In addition, we strongly encour- setts. The theme for the Division’s 2008 his Ph.D degree in psychology from Surrey age student submissions for this year’s con- program is “Peace Psychology: Social Jus- University in England. After work with the vention. We have noticed a surge in stu- tice at Home and Abroad.” Development Program and dent interests in issues pertaining to peace several universities, he joined the faculty at and international relations and encourage When defining peace, former Secretary Gen- Georgetown University where he current- students to explore these interests through eral of the United Nations, Kofi Annan said: ly holds the rank of full professor. He has Division 48. taught courses in a dozen different content One final note. Division 48 has agreed to “…The aim must be peace with justice in areas and he serves on the editorial boards co-sponsor an American Psychological As- of numerous journals. His lengthy list of the world. And justice means life in dignity.” sociation Presidential Summit on Violence published books have literally defined and and Abusive Relationships: Connecting advanced social psychology’s positions on The scholarly and applied achievements of Agendas and Forging New Directions. group conflict, international understanding, the 2007 Morton Deutsch Award winner, This Summit’s organizers are Divisions 35 terrorism, and peace and reconciliation. Dr. Nicholas Freudenberg, and the 2007 (Psychology of Women) and 56 (Trauma Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Dr. But what is most important is Fathali’s Psychology). Division 48 is one of 14 co- Fathali Moghaddam, speak to this theme. sponsors for this summit. Details of the Dr. Freudenberg is a Distinguished Professor character and conscience. Fathali lives his work. In my opinion, he is the new “full ca- Summit, which will take place February of Public Health at Hunter College of the 28-29, in Bethesda, Maryland, are included City University of New York and a Distin- pacity global citizen”—a person who fuses and blends his responsibilities as a citizen guished Professor at the City University of Continued on page 7

 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Book Review We are co-sponsoring two conferences. Working for Peace: A Handbook of Practical Please mark your calendars Psychology and Other Tools and plan to attend if possible. by Rachel M. MacNair, (ed.) and Psychologists for Social Responsibility Impact Publishers, Atascadero, California (2006). www.impactpublishers.com The Summit on Violence & Reviewed by Francisco Gomes de Matos, Abuse in Relationships Universidade Federal de Pernambuco and Associação Brasil América/Recife, Brazil, [email protected] Feb. 28 − 29, 2008, Bethesda, Maryland. For more information, contact his timely addition to the ever-grow- The book’s treatment of communication Debby Ragin at [email protected] ing literature on peace studies includes challenges and issues is appropriate, but the Ta foreword by Arun Gandhi (director, inclusion of the core-concept of communi- M.K. Gandhi Institute for ) and cative peace could have enhanced its prac- The Evidence-Based Practices an introduction by Rachel M.MacNair, with tical relevance. On that dimension, see this for Ethnic Minorities Neil Wollman: “The Choir’s Gotta Know reviewer’s chapter “Using Peaceful Language: How to Sing.” In the practical introductory From Principles to Practices” in the UNES- Conference text, readers are told how Working for Peace CO—sponsored by EOLSS—online Ency- March 13 − 14, 2008, Washington D.C. can help them by looking at sets of chapters clopedia of Life-Support Systems, 2005. after the APA State Leadership Conference. categorized in terms of improving personal ef- Three of the many memorable, inspiring For more information, contact fectiveness, helping local groups work better, looking for ideas on how to make a greater statements throughout the book include: Eduardo Morales at [email protected] impact, looking for ideas in conflict resolu- “To work for peace is to work for a world of tion and/or nonviolent action, communicat- compassion, free of all forms of violence.” ing one’s message effectively, reaching the − Arun Gandhi, p. ix next generation. “Creating a peaceful world requires developing The volume’s five sections include: Exciting Beginnings, continued from page 6 peaceful people. Therefore, peace education is Peace Workers: Getting Yourselves Together; an essential part of working for peace.” elsewhere in this edition of Peace Psychol- Peace Groups: Getting Organized; Peacemak- − Linden L Nelson, p. 207 ogy. Specifically, Division 48 will help to ing: Transforming Conflict into Creativity; organize a training session on advocacy. On Peace Work: Getting the Message Out; and “We need you working together, Thursday, February 28, Division 48 will as- Peaceful Persuasion: Changing Attitudes. sist in a morning training session on strate- laughing together, healthy, energized, thinking strategically, using every psycho- gies for talking with U.S. congresspersons Commendably, epigraph-like statements logical tool to promote the many varieties of and senators about legislation to address quote inspiring voices: the Bhagavad Gita, cultures of peace around the world. ” violence and abusive relationships, and Mother Teresa, Hillel, Rabbi Harold S. − Anne Anderson an afternoon trip to Capitol Hill to meet Kuchner, E.B.White, Jane Adams, Mary with legislators to advocate for legislation Parker Follett, Paul Loeb, Isaiah, Micah Much more could be said about this highly to address domestic and relational aggres- and Maria Montessori. informative handbook. Its 43 authors and sion and violence. This Summit is one of its editor are to be commended for this Given the volume’s focus on practical sug- several events that speak to issues of peace impressive updating and expansion of “a gestions, a commendable feature is the and social justice at home, as well as abroad, classic book from 1985” as it is fondly de- abundance of guidelines, lists, strategies, and deserves our full support. We encourage scribed. In short, it is a creatively crafted techniques and typologies. For example, it your attendance and participation in this book that can impact constructively on the includes a list of more than 100 social ac- Summit. Feel free to contact me at ragind@ challenging, humanizing mission of Eng- tions, 20 media communication tips, 12 mail.montclair.edu for further information lish-language-using peace workers. about this summit. principles for changing attitudes, and more.

Again, it is my pleasure to serve as your pres- ident-elect and I look forward to working with and for you in the coming year.

Peace,

Deborah Fish Ragin President-Elect

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology  Is Peace Possible? Citizens’ Views Helena Castanheira, Michael Corgan & Kathleen Malley-Morrison

n her presidential article, and found that a majority of the Brazilian the international sample were living in the “Marketing Peace,” Linda Woolf, provides adolescents and Chilean adults believed in United States at the time they submitted Ia wonderful quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: the possibility of peace, but on average, the their surveys. Participants in the domestic respondents from the other countries were sample were born in the United States, as “For it isn’t enough to talk about peace. One more pessimistic. Moreover, although re- were both of their parents. All participants must believe in it. spondents from Germany, which had been were asked their preferred political party. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. involved in two 20th century world , Not surprisingly, more than a third of the One must work at it.” were likely to respond that “wars will always sample identified a political party from their country of origin, or identified them- (Peace Psychology, Fall/Winter, 2006) exist,” respondents from Brazil, Chile, and Portugal tended to think that, with soli- selves as liberal, moderate, or conservative rather than naming U.S. political parties. In the same issue, JW Heuchert quotes Dwight darity, wars could be avoided. In a study of Based on the responses, we identified five D. Eisenhower: “I think that people want children from the United States and Yugo- major political party orientations—Social- peace so much that one of these days govern- slavia, Myers-Bowman, Walker, and My- ments had better get out of the way and let ist/Communist, Democrat/liberal, Indepen- ers-Walls (2005) found that children from them have it” (page 2). Clearly, Heuchert, dent/moderate, Republican/conservative, both countries generally viewed peace as the editor of Peace Psychology, Woolf, Presi- and Libertarian—and classified 69% of the the absence of war, although many of them dent of the Society for the Study of Peace, domestic sample and 44% of the interna- also identified peace with prosocial -inter Conflict, and Violence (APA’s Division 48), tional sample as Democrat/Liberal, 13% of and other contributors to Peace Psychology are actions, tranquility and quiet, agreement the domestic sample and 17% of the inter- committed to the twin goals of learning more and treaty making, and positive emotions. national sample as Republican/Conserva- and educating others about peace, and what A “ripple effect” in 20% of the American tive, and 18% of the domestic and 40% of is needed to achieve it. Both 2006 issues of children’s conceptions of peace—that is, the international sample as Other or did Peace Psychology featured Divison 48’s hopeful descriptions of events “that began with one not report. slogan: “peace is possible. think it. plan it. do it.” action or interaction and spread outward by influencing others’ feelings and behaviors Measure Are ordinary American citizens, in this era of until it reached countries or their leaders For the purposes of this study, responses to burgeoning inter-state and intra-state (or both)” (p. 195)—suggests that these the following two items were analyzed: “I be- warfare, able to view peace as a possibility? children saw the achievement of peace as lieve that can be achieved” and possible. When a sample of 10-year-old “The best way to achieve world peace is…” If so, what do they think is necessary to move Filippino children were asked, “How do you Participants were asked to rate their level of the world in a more peaceful direction? The agreement with the first item on a scale of 1 purpose of the current study was to assess the think you can make peace?” they empha- to 7 (from totally disagree to totally agree). views of lay people in the United States con- sized both economic steps such as “building The second item was open-ended, allowing cerning the possibility of peace and the steps houses, providing employment and educa- participants to present their own views on presumed necessary for peace to be achieved. tion opportunities, taking care of poverty, and enough food for everybody” and put- how world peace might be achieved. The open-ended responses were coded into cat- There has been substantially more theory- ting a stop to wars (Oppenheimer & Kuipe- egories identified in a coding manual devel- building and research on war—its mean- rs, 2003, p. 247). In our exploratory study, oped using responses from a general coding ing, causes, and effects—than on peace, and we posed a similar question to adults. much of the research on attitudes toward manual sample assembled for the PAIRTAS and conceptions of peace has been done project, and consisting of 30 participants from Methods & Sample the United States and 20 participants from with children. For example, Hakvoort and The sample consisted of 68 adults (34 female, other countries. The coding categories, rep- Hägglund (2001), in an open-ended survey 34 male) born in the United States age 18 resenting different views on how peace could of concepts of war and peace in Swedish and to 60 (the “domestic sample”) and 50 adults be achieved, and derived from the coding Dutch children and adolescents, found that (34 female, 34 male) from outside the Unit- manual sample, were: 1) Positive interper- the Dutch children made more references to ed States, age 18 to 61 (the “international sonal strategies (with subcategories for com- disarmament than the Swedish children, and sample”). All respondents were participants munication, compromise, and education); 2) girls’ conceptions of peace tended to be more in a larger study of international perspectives Ethical behavior (e.g., “Act with trust and complex than those of boys, with a greater on governmental aggression and peace, and good will”); 3) Social Justice/ emphasis on social interactions. all completed the Personal and Institutional solutions (e.g., “More equality in shares of re- Rights to Aggression Scale (PAIRTAS; Mal- Biaggio, De Souza, & Martini (2004) admin- sources, better understanding and validation ley-Morrison & Daskalopoulos, 2006) over of differences in cultures”); 4) Politics/Di- istered an open-ended survey on attitudes the internet. Participants in the interna- plomacy (e.g., “Through peaceful meetings toward peace, war and violence to eighth tional sample were born in countries other between many countries in the world, be- graders and college students from Brazil, than the United States, as were both of their tween world officials”); 5) Dominance (e.g., Chile, Germany, Portugal, and the USA parents. Just over 75% of the respondents in

 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 “Total domination and control”); and 6) be seen, the majority of respondents sug- portion of females than of males recommend- Not possible/don’t know (e.g., “it is realisti- gested peace process efforts falling into two ed social justice/human rights types of actions, cally impossible.”). Each response was divided categories—positive interpersonal strategies −2(4)=4.10, p<.05. into thematic units and coded for presence or and social justice/ human rights solutions. A absence of each of the themes (categories) chi-square one-dimensional goodness of fit Finally, Pearson correlations were calculated identified in the coding manual. In addi- test with the presence/absence scores showed between age and both the rating scale scores tion, the frequency with which a particular that the distribution of responses into the five and the count scores for each of the major type of response was given was computed (the main categories (excluding the dominance categories of response. A significant posi- “count” score). category, which had less than 5% of the re- tive correlation was found between age and sponses) differed significantly from chance, recommendations for positive interpersonal Results −2(4) =51.42, p<0.0001. Within the positive strategies and a significant negative correla- Rating scale scores for the “I believe world interpersonal strategies category, the majority tion was found between age and don’t know/ peace can be achieved” item ranged the en- of the responses emphasized communication, impossible responses. tire length of the scale from 1 (totally dis- understanding, and accepting differences. agree) to 7 (totally agree), with the average Within the social justice/human rights cat- Discussion score exactly in the middle (3.5). An inde- egory, the majority of responses emphasized To the extent that they thought world peace pendent samples t-test revealed no signifi- global solutions (e.g., “all of the people of the could be achieved, the vast majority of the cant differences between men and women world communities would have to somehow current sample suggested that the best routes on their scores, but a marginally significant raise their consciousness or level of thinking were peaceful ones—that is through inter- difference (p=.098) between the domes- to aim for the common good”). personal processes such as communication, tic sample (M=3.81) and the international compromise, following the Golden Rule, sample (M=3.22). A one-way analysis of Chi square contingency analyses were run behaving ethically, and striving to reduce variance with political orientation as the in- with the presence/absence scores for the ma- injustice and improve human rights. Sugges- dependent variable revealed that the groups jor coding categories to determine whether tions that peace could be achieved through differed significantly in their belief in the type of recommended solution varied by do- military might were remarkably rare, and achievability of world peace, F(4,106)=3.68, mestic versus international group and/or by only a very small percentage of our sample p=.008). Post hoc pairwise comparisons political orientation. There was no contin- asserted that attaining world peace was im- indicated that the Communist/Socialists gent relationship between domestic versus possible or indicated that they had no idea (M=5.8) scored significantly higher in level international status and likelihood of making how it could be achieved. of agreement than Republican/conservatives any particular type of argument for the attain- Although several previous studies (e.g., (M=2.70; p=.002), Libertarians (M=1.5; ability of peace. The only category revealing Ashy & Malley-Morrison, 2007; Hashim p=.001), and Democrats/liberals (M= 2.20; any difference across political groups was In- & Malley-Morrison, 2007; Malley-Morri- p=.02) and marginally higher than Inde- terpersonal Strategies solutions; specifically, son, Daskalopoulos, & You, 2006; Malley- pendents/moderates (M=2.4; p=.054). The 34 out of the 41 participants recommending Morrison, et al., 2006) have revealed that Democrats/liberals, while scoring signifi- this type of process were Socialists/Com- women are generally more opposed to war cantly lower than the Communists/Social- munists or Democrats/liberals,−2(4)=8.66, than men, in the current study there were ists, scored significantly higher than the p=.07. A one-way analysis of variance with no significant gender differences on rating Libertarians (p=.04) and marginally higher the count scores confirmed significant differ- scale scores indicating agreement with the than the Republicans (p=.07). ences across groups, F(4,106)=2.73, p<.04. Chi square contingency analyses run by gen- possibility of world peace. We suggest that Table 1 provides the frequencies and per- der on the presence/absence scores for the dif- although women may generally be stronger centages of respondents providing at least ferent types of recommended paths to peace proponents of peace than men, they may see one response in each of the major catego- revealed one statistically significant gender the international political arena as a man’s ries identified in the coding manual. As can difference. That is, a significantly higher pro- Continued on page 5

TABLE 1: The best way to achieve world peace: Percentages and Frequencies of Men and Women in Domestic and International Samples Providing Responses in Five Peace Categories Response category

GROUP Positive interpersonal Ethical behavior Social justice/ Politics/ Dominance strategies Human rights Males % n % n % n % n % n Domestic 7 9   10      International 12      5 7 1 2

Females Domestic 10  2  10  10  0 0 International 7 0 2  10     

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology  Hear the Missing Voices Leigh Messinides & Brian K. Turner

Introduction: As a psychologist working with combat veterans for the past 15 years, I have heard within the confines of the therapy sessions their keen and heart-felt observations on the personal and social costs of war.

It has been increasingly clear to me that these voices are missing from ample, the filmS ir! No Sir! is a review of the GI resistance to the Vietnam the national and political debates, to the detriment of all. It is clear war). But most important may be the conceptual leap involved in viewing that the psychological sequelae of combat, for example, symptoms distress as an individual issue versus distress as a natural consequence of trauma, depression, grief and isolation, can for some individuals of social injustice. When working with veterans with issues of anger, for interfere with speaking out, joining peace movements and other ac- example, the goal of eliminating their anger may obfuscate their feelings tivist endeavors. It seems logical that in the psychotherapy process a as natural consequences to unresponsive social and military systems, veteran may become more active in many areas of his life, and one having to unfairly bear the burdens of war created by civilian policy-mak- of those that is most important and yet undervalued in the definition ers, and finding that the system for foreign policy decision-making is part of mental health is involvement on a community or social level. How- of a system of preserving power and benefiting some strata of society at ever, psychologists are often hesitant to facilitate this process, and I the expense of others. The following article is one example of the contri- feel there is much that can be done to remedy this. Knowledge of the butions that can and should be made by military veterans to the current existence of activist groups, particularly those whose membership in- war and peace debate. This article is an extension of a roundtable sympo- volves active military, veterans, or family members of veterans, is one sium Mr. Turner and I presented, sponsored by Division 48 at the August important step. Knowledge of the historical precedent for veterans 2007 American Psychological Association’s San Francisco conference. to be active in the peace process is also very helpful (for a recent ex- Leigh Messinides, Ph.D.

he character of any nation at war Our returning veterans stand collectively and how form so easily vanquishes content. can essentially be measured by the as possibly our greatest resource in offering I have grown up in an era in which John T respective characters of those who a social perspective on the merits and suc- Wayne was regarded as the penultimate war make the decision to wage war, and of cess of war, yet too often, from a psychoana- hero of the WWII generation, even though those who actually are sent to fight. If lytical approach, are isolated and segregated he lied to the Draft Board about a nonexis- too great a disparity in character exists into individual case files whose symptoms tent injury to evade military service. Plenty between these two “classes,” then the na- of trauma are automatically regarded as bar- of actors from that era did not perform com- tion in effect is waging war on itself and riers and impediments to successful rehabil- bat service in that war (Lee Marvin, Jimmy its own values. Welcome to America’s Iraq itation into civilian life, rather than reflect- Stewart, Charles Durning, Clark Gable, endeavor and how the “shock and awe” ing a commonality of perspective that can among others), but whose humility and lack campaign that the Bush administration be effectively directed toward social activ- of self-aggrandizement militated against their has wreaked on Iraq is coming home to a ism. I have been in therapy for the entirety prospects of being hailed as warrior icons. weary, beleaguered nation in the form of of our current conflict. Many times I have the shattered bodies and broken psyches of launched into diatribes and polemic tirades I was still a young man while witnessing our fighting men and women. with my therapists against the presidential Sylvester Stallone being elevated to war administration that is nearly entirely a prod- hero status as Johnny Rambo, the maverick I am a disabled veteran (not due to war-re- uct of the investor class, with no personal renegade who returned to Vietnam to res- lated causes) and I feel somewhat conflicted experience of hardship of military service. cue imaginary POWs. Once again, a legion on selecting the correct tone and tenor for Invariably, the analyst would counter with of actors and entertainers (Oliver Stone, my narrative. I am an outspoken activist, some refrain of “well, that’s great that you Dennis Franz, hell, even Jimmy Hendrix given to intemperate outbursts, but I have are so cognizant of social issues, but what spent time in the Army’s 101st Airborne also worked within the more moderated about you?” My response, usually dispensed Division) were nonetheless overlooked in voice of a journalist. I also have a profound with a measure of moral indignation, would favor of Stallone’s histrionics, even though empathy and sympathy for veterans who be “hey, this is about me, living in a nation in real life Stallone fled the country - dur have suffered far greater than I, yet I am where draft-dodging elitists send men and ing the Vietnam era to teach at an all-girl’s somewhat weighted down by my own de- women off as mercenary pawns in a free- school in Switzerland. Stallone’s insult to bilitating bouts with trauma-spawned de- market experiment to expand the corporate reality is even more egregious than Wayne’s; pression. In short, my personal concerns for boundaries of upper-class elites.” we actually won WWII, but there were no veterans’ issues expand and contract within lone wolves returning to Vietnam to kick the elastic and expansive confines that de- Part of my personal angst of living in this Soviet and North Vietnamese butt and re- marcate any veteran’s playing field. modern age is coming to terms with how store our collective dignity. This fabrication style has come to triumph over substance, created a new paradigm in our historical

10 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 reference—if we don’t like the outcome of veteran’s reintroduction into society but in heard of Hugh Thompson, and they invari- a conflict, we simply rewrite history to cre- many respects I believe ‘anger amplifica- ably answer no. Captain Hugh Thompson, ate the desired outcome. tion’ may be a more appropriate course to was the crew chief for a UH1 Iriquois he- remedy psychosocial maladies on a larger licopter flying a reconnaissance mission in This brings us to our modern day fabrica- scale. I, personally, would like to conduct Vietnam on 16 March 1968, and encoun- tor extraordinaire, George W. Bush, dressed seminars for returning veterans elucidating tered a strange sight over a village called in full aviator’s gear for a staged jet-landing the draft-dodging predispositions of their My Lai. Hundreds of Vietnamese, mostly on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lincoln in the civilian commanders, while simultaneously women, children, and the elderly, had been ultimate display of theatrical machismo, expounding on their cynical undercutting herded into an irrigation ditch and were falsely claiming that major military opera- of veterans’ funding in order to facilitate being mowed down by automatic weapons tions in Iraq were concluded, and we had tax cuts for the wealthiest contingent of fire directed from a Lieutenant Calley and emerged victorious. Later, Bush would send his platoon. Captain Thompson land- out his minions headed by Karl Rove, ed his helicopter, and with his crew to disparage a real war hero’s exploits “A nation should have a revolution dismounted and positioned himself (John Kerry), thereby pulling off the between Calley’s platoon and the vil- ultimate televisual triumph of theat- every twenty years just to keep the lagers, and announced that the next rical performance over actual living people to be shot, whether they were history. This obscene stunt fooled government honest.” he and his crew or Calley and his pla- much of common populace, but many toon, would be Americans. It is esti- veterans took note and remain seeth- –Thomas Jefferson mated that Thompson and his crew ing to this day. Ironically, a poll taken saved the lives of nearly 300 villagers in 1985 following the second Rambo on that day. movie, found that 40 percent of those sur- their support base. I would then open the veyed really believed that we had returned door, stand aside, and hope that as many as For his troubles, Thompson was soon branded to Vietnam in the 1980s to kick butt; this is possible of the newly enlightened would a pariah and vilified for “betraying his own the same percentage of Americans who still burst forth as a brigade of collective social kind.” When he returned stateside, whenever believe Saddam Hussein master-minded the justice-seekers on a crusade to correct the entering the officer’s club, the whole complex 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. imbalance between the craven, mercenary cleared out. Dead animals were stuffed in his forces of the investor class and the humble mailbox, and he received numerous death As a veteran, the most galling aspect of our sacrifice of the warrior class. threats via telephone. But to a true soldier, current conflict is that the current adminis- Thompson represented the most extraor- tration is devoid of anyone having personal By such a process, the individual rage of each dinary of warriors; a person willing to die to experience in the nightmare of military con- unsung representative can be converted and fight a declared enemy and coming to realize flict. The chief proponents and architects of coalesced into a movement of social protest, that sometimes the enemy wore the same uni- this war include George Bush, Karl Rove, civil disobedience, civil insurrection and form as he. The lesson here (I hope) is that Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Douglas perhaps ultimately, social revolution. We as long as we are a nation that knows who Feith, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, and should not forget that it was our esteemed Paris Hilton is but doesn’t know who Hugh a host of others who took extraordinary forefather, Thomas Jefferson, who asserted Thompson is (and others like him) we are measures to avoid active military service that “A nation should have a revolution ev- going to continue being lied into unjust wars during their respective times of war, with ery twenty years just to keep the government by miscreants who, though themselves largely the preeminent exemplar of military avoid- honest” (excuse me; I think I hear the NSA ignorant, are masterful at exploiting our ig- ance being Dick Cheney, who received five and FBI breaking down my door). Simply norance and fears. Veterans are perhaps our draft deferments from military service dur- put, symptoms of rage exhibited by an in- best, though almost certainly our most under ing the Vietnam conflict. Not only has this dividual veteran need not necessarily be used, resource in learning the lessons of war. coterie of draft-dodgers callously sent a new diagnosed as a need for therapeutic or phar- But for effecting social and military policy generation of the warrior class into battle to maceutical intervention; they could simply changes relevant not just to war-making but advance their own energy resource and cor- be regarded as a clarion call for imposing an peace-making, they may need your assistance porate-crony related free-market neocon entire society’s need for therapy. to realize just how important they are. ambitions, but they have quietly worked behind the scenes to expansion of While speaking with people in and out of − Brian K. Turner, M.S. veterans’ benefits and to subtly influence the Department of Veteran’s Affairs health- disability evaluators to dismiss as many care system, I periodically conduct a simple Brian K. Turner is an Army veteran, sergeant, 1st PTSD, depression, and other psychologi- quiz: I ask the person if he or she is famil- Cavalry Division; Leigh Messinides, is a staff clini- cally-based disability claims by returning iar with Paris Hilton (substitute Britney cal psychologist, Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans as possible. Clearly, anger manage- Spears, Justin Timberlake, etc.). Invariably Long Beach Medical Center. ment has a role as a remedy to facilitate a they answer yes. Then I ask if they have ever

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 11 Biographical Factors of Men and Women Nobel Peace Laureates

M.L.Corbin Sicoli & April Hansen Perrymore

Abstract Results Biographical data from all 12 women Nobel Peace A comparison group of 12 men awarded the Nobel An analysis of the factors listed in the methods Laureates was analyzed in comparison with 12 se- Peace Prize was sampled. Those men who shared section revealed both similarities and differences lected men Nobel Peace Laureates (NPL). Results the prize with a female NPL were selected. If no between the majority of NPL men and women. Simi- indicated common factors in the lives of these 24 man shared the prize with a woman, then the male larities included: for the family of origin of the NPLs; persons; most notably, coming from stable, religious, NPL who won the preceding year, or the year after middle class or higher origins, number of siblings middle class, loving families without parental abuse the woman won the prize, was sampled. This proce- (4), no only child status, strong degree of religious or abandonment. NPLs reported strong attachment dure was used to correct for any possible historical identification, non-coercive discipline methods, no to at least one parent. Some gender differences bias. See Table 1 for a list of all NPLs sampled. parental desertion, geographic stability, low levels emerged; women were more likely to experience of emotional disorders in both family and NPLs, low childhood hardships (especially the death of a par- Procedure levels of military participation, low levels of divorce ent), were less likely to marry, and had fewer children Multiple print/electronic sources were consulted for both in family and NPLs, and parents as role models. than the males. Men NPLs tended to work under biographical information for each NPL. Biographi- NPLs had diverse places of birth and diverse religious powerful mentors within hierarchical organizations, cal information was more readily available for some backgrounds. while women formed “grass roots” organizations. NPLs than others; therefore, not all database cate- gories (factors) were complete for all NPLs. In these Gender differences included: Men NPLs had higher Men were more likely to have experienced prior peri- levels of education, were more likely to marry and ods of engaging in non-peaceful endeavors and paid cases the percentages were prorated to include only recipients for whom the necessary categorical infor- to have more children, to have secured a power- for their peace efforts by estrangement from prior ful mentor in a hierarchical organization, to have peers/governing bodies. mation could be found. Only the factors for which information existed for at least 55 percent of the experienced a period of anti-social behavior in their Sample sample were included for analysis. This technique earlier lives, and to have become estranged from All 12 women who were awarded the Nobel Peace is adapted from that of Rhodes, Hill, Thompson and prior allies who mentored them. Prize, from its inception in 1901 until 2005, formed Elliott (1994). For an analysis of the strengths and Women were more likely to have suffered early life the population for the present study. weaknesses of the biographical approach to the hardships, especially the loss of a parent prior to study of eminent persons, see Ludwig (1996). age 21, and to have built “grass roots” types of col- laborative ventures with other women or women in cooperation with men. Table 1 Table 2 Note: Women & Selected Men Nobel Peace Laureates Life Factors Common to the Families of Origin of a M.L.Corbin Sicoli & Majority of Both Men & Women Nobel Peace Laureates Year Name Reason April Hansen Perrymore Middle class or higher SES can be contacted at: 1931 Laura Jane Addams President WILPF Average number of siblings: four Cabrini College, 1946 Work with WILPF No NPL an only child Radnor, PA, 19087. 1976 Mairead Corrigan Cofounder Peace People Significant degree of religious identification 2003 Shirin Ebadi Rights of women and children Non-coercive discipline methods 1991 Aung San Suu Kyi Human rights for Burmese No parental desertion 2004 Wangari Muta Maathai Greenbelt movement Geographic stability 1992 Rigoberta Menchu Rights for indigenous persons Low levels of emotional disorders (also for laureates) Low levels of military participation 1982 Alva Reimer Myrdal Efforts toward disarmament Low levels of divorce (also for laureates) 1905 Bertha von Suttner Anti-war writer, Int’l Peace Diverse places of birth and diverse religious backgrounds 1979 Mother Teresa Int’l work with poor Parents as role models 1976 Betty Williams Cofounder Peace People 1997 Jody Williams Banning/clearing of land mines Table 3 1996 Carlos Felipe X. Belo Human rights for East Timorese Gender Differences in Life Factors of NPLs by Percentage 1931 Nicholas Murray Butler Carnegie Endow. Int’l Peace 2002 Jimmy Carter Middle-East peace Women Men x p 1993 Frederik W. de Klerk Peaceful end of apartheid Post high school education 58 91 3.56 .06 2004 Mohamed El Baradei Nonproliferation nuclear weaps. 1990 Mikail Gorbachev Perestroika, Glasnost Marriage 66 91 2.27 .13 1946 John Raleigh Mott Chair, Int’l Missionary Council Parenthood 58 91 2.27 .13 Number of children (t test) 2.5 3.1 14.4 .00 1982 Alfonso Garcia Robles Efforts toward disarmament Childhood hardship/ 75 33 6.7 .01 1906 Theodore Roosevelt Negotiated Russo-Japanese Trea. Parental loss 1978 Anwar M. el Sadat Arab-Israeli negotiations Non-peaceful period 0 42 6.31 .01 1975 Andrei D. Sakharov Human rights & nuclear disarm. Powerful mentor/hierarchy 25 100 14.40 .00 1974 Eisaku Sato Nonproliferation nuclear weaps. Grass-roots founder 75 0 4.80 .03 Collaboration with women or 100 08 24.0 .00 men and women

12 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Everything I Need to Know About the APA and Interrogations I Learned in Grad School

Sara Durbin

he title of this ing, overgeneralization, and jumping to Statistics piece is a little conclusions seemed to run rampant. The The question then comes down to what type Tmisleading—I amendment proposed applied only to situa- of error are we willing to make—a type one am not the type of tions in which detainees were not provided error or a type two error? This seems like a person who believes adequate protection of their human rights hard choice. We already know that there are that everything can and did not remove psychologists from abuse and human rights violations in these be learned in a class- these centers, but only limited their role detention centers. If we support the involve- room. In actuality I am a firm believer in to that of a medical professional providing ment of psychologists in interrogations, we the irreplaceable value of real world experi- beneficial treatment. are risking the involvement of psychologists ence. However, while participating in the in these abuses. However, if we remove the APA conference’s debate around a morato- Yet repeatedly during the deliberation the ac- psychologists completely will we also remove rium on the use of psychologists in military tual wording of the amendment was ignored. any protection that they might have provid- interrogations I couldn’t help but apply It was stated that the amendment would ed for the detainees? the lessons from my first year in graduate completely remove psychologists from these school. Indeed, certain fundamental prin- centers, which was not the case. Psychologists The solution to this is a resolution that al- ciples need to be revisited in this debate. came to the microphone and stated their fear lows for psychologists to be present in de- that this would be widely applicable to every- tention centers that are operating outside Law and Ethics thing from working in high schools to family of human rights only if they are acting as a Beneficence and Nonmaleficence; above all therapy. Despite all assurances to the contrary, medical professional—a medical profession- else do no harm. They are relatively simple this type of hysterical thinking would be chal- al who is working to ensure the welfare and concepts, but they carry the weight of our lenged in our clients, yet went largely uncon- rights of the detainees. The psychologists in profession. The APA’s ethical principles tested in the APA debate. these centers must be seen as agents for the state that “Psychologists strive to benefit powerless, not as agents of the government those with whom they work and take care Social Psychology and be answerable to a higher code of ethics to do no harm. Psychologists seek to safe- While there has been no evidence that outside of military or U.S. law. guard the welfare and rights of those with the moratorium would affect those operat- These are the basics. The simple things whom they interact professionally and oth- ing outside of the illegal detention centers, that you learn in graduate school that are er affected persons.”(2003 ¶12).1 there has been ample evidence of the tor- ture, abuse, and rights violations that occur to provide a foundation for your work as an Can a psychologist simultaneously protect in these detention centers. Social psychol- ethical and effective psychologist. So, in the rights and welfare of individuals while ogy has taught us that individuals in these fact, most of what I needed to know about participating in acts that infringe upon their situations will overwhelmingly fall into the the APA and interrogations I have learned rights and are harmful to their welfare? Is patterns of abuse and obedience. Psycholo- while in grad school. it ethical to conduct research under condi- gists are not immune to this phenomenon. Still, there are some things that grad school tions where a person’s fundamental human could never teach me. These are the things rights are violated? Our basic ethical prin- While Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment is I learned while working with the survivors ciples charge us with the responsibly for often looked at to explain the acts of sol- of war and torture. I have learned about the the health, rights, and welfare of others. In diers in places such as Abu Ghraib, we deep scars and irreparable damage created detention centers that operate in violation often ignore perhaps the most important by the same abuses that we now practice of international human rights the only role lesson of the study for psychologists. This in the detention centers set up by our own a psychologist can hold is one that both is that Zimbardo himself was drawn into government. These lessons, which I learned protects, and acts in accordance with, the the experiment, despite his knowledge of outside of the classroom, have taught me rights of the detainees. The amendment as psychological ethics and of the nature of what it truly means to be an advocate for proposed, and subsequently voted down, at the experiment. From Zimbardo’s own ac- mental health. It is these lessons and the the APA conference provided the APA with count, he didn’t consider calling off the ex- lessons learned inside the classroom that an opportunity to act in accordance with its periment until an independent third party have cemented the reality that if I am to principles. However, these principles seemed awakened him to the true nature of what act ethically, as a future psychologist I must lost in the rhetoric of the debate. was occurring. always work for peace and justice. Despite the APA’s strongly worded resolu- 1 Introduction to CBT tion against torture, we cannot ignore the American Psychological Association, (2003, June 1). Professional psychologists are trained to Ethical principals of psychologists and codes of conduct. susceptibility of any psychologist placed in be able to point out cognitive distortions, Retrieved Sept. 14, 2007, from APA’s web site. the detention centers to the worst part of yet they are not immune to them. At the human nature. APA convention, black and white think-

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 13 Peace Restoration: An Ecological Formulation

Michael Corgan, Kathleen Malley-Morrison & Helena Castanheira

eace is generally thought of as ei- adapted this model to analyze the causes of by continuing the violence. At the level of ther the absence of war (a “negative” child maltreatment (Belsky, 1993), spousal the community, it was important in North- Pperspective) or the presence of char- abuse (e.g., Dutton, 1985) and elder abuse ern Ireland for the Catholic community acteristics such as harmony and well-being (e.g., Schiamberg & Gans, 2000) at differ- to achieve some economic parity with the (a “positive” perspective) (Galtung, 1985; ent ecological levels. This model, particular Protestant community, which viewed the Hakvoort & Oppenheimer, 1993; Myers- as revised by Belsky to include the charac- long-impoverished Catholic community al- Bowman, Walker, & Myers-Walls, 2005). teristics that individuals bring to each of the most as a third-world country. At the broad Anderson (2004, p. 102) suggested that “A contexts in which they think and act, also macrosystem level (the two Irelands—one truly global understanding of peace should provides a useful framework for analyzing Catholic and one Protestant—on the is- include both the absence of factors such as both the causes of war and the components land), it was important for both political violence and the presence of factors such of peace restoration. It is quite compatible and religious leaders and followers to rec- as balance, harmony, and unbrokenness.” with the work of Waltz (1959), who theo- ognize that the fuels for the long conflict All of these perspectives are relatively rized that the causes of war lie in the nature had been more political and economic than static—that is, peace is viewed more as a of individuals, the nature of governments, religious. Finally, at the international level, state than as a process, although Anderson and the nature of the international system. the acceptance of Ireland into the Euro- has argued that “The view of peace as a In his view, to work on any one of these pean Union was probably the crucial step state does not necessarily imply that it is a levels at the expense of the others will only in ensuring that the two sides find a way to static concept” (p. 103). make matters worse and increase the likeli- restore peace. hood of war. Increasingly, social scientists, NGO mem- Using an ecological/Waltzian framework, bers, and peace activists have been focusing � Our own interest is in the restoration of we would recommend that peace restora- more on process in relation to peace—e.g., peace following conflict in the kind of cir- tion be viewed and pursued as an integrated on peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peace- cumstance that is increasingly characteris- process, with an attention to all levels of building. Still very neglected is the construct tic of the world today—that is, conflicts in the individual/context ecological level: of peace restoration following conflict. In our which there is not a victorious country that view, peace restoration is a process that de- imposes conditions of ceasefire and settle- 1. Identify individual leaders of exemplary mands attention, and that is best conceptual- ment on another country, but where the character whom both sides can respect ized within an ecological framework, derived warring parties, perhaps worn out with the and view as fair and unbiased. from the initial development framework of struggle, are willing to work toward ways to 2. Re-educate individuals at all levels to Bronfenbrenner (e.g., 1979) and effectively stop the violence. The model case for this reduce demonizing the former “enemy” extended to work on family violence by Bel- situation is probably Northern Ireland. To and increase recognition of common sky (1980; 1993). understand how peace restoration occurred humanity, shared goals, and an inter- in Northern Ireland specifically, and how connected stake in peace. In his early conceptualization of human to promote peace restoration in other post- development, Bronfenbrenner (1979) conflict arenas, it is useful to attend both to argued that human development and behav- 3. Re-establish the social, economic, and edu- characteristics of individuals (particularly cational infrastructure in communities. ior should be analyzed within a nested set of leaders, but often followers), and to charac- environmental contexts or systems. These teristics of the nested environments within 4. Appeal for help from appropriate inter- contexts include: 1) the microsystem—i.e., which they function—the immediate com- national organizations as needed—e.g., the immediate settings in which develop- munity, the neighborhood, the country as a to stop the fighting, establish a ceasefire, ment takes place (e.g., the home); 2) the whole, and the broader world and its inter- negotiate peace planning, support peace mesosystem and exosystem—i.e., the school, national organizations. restoration. the larger neighborhood, the mass media, state agencies, and transportation facilities; In the case of Northern Ireland, individu- 5. Work with both the conflicting parties and 3) the macrosystem—i.e., broad cultural als who made a difference included George and the international community to ad- factors within the country at large. In an im- Mitchell, who was trusted by both sides and dress the kinds of portant modification of the theory, Belsky seen as an impartial mediator, as well as the (Christie, 1997) that contribute to armed (1993) argued that the ecological system two women, one Protestant (Betty Wil- conflict within and between countries. includes an ontogenetic or individual/devel- liams) and one Catholic (Mairead Corrig- opmental level—that is, the unique biologi- an), who won a Nobel Peace Prize for their References cal/genetic characteristics that exist even efforts, and ultimately leaders on both sides Anderson, R. (2004). A definition of peace. before birth and that individuals bring to of the conflict who came to see that more Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 10, 101–116. every interaction. Several researchers have was to be gained by striving for peace than Continued on page 36

14 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 �

Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster Supplement Guest Editor: Julie Meranze Levitt

The Aftermath of Katrina for Mental Health Professionals

Julie Meranze Levitt n August 2006 the Society for the mands of mental health workers who lived his practical approaches for providing assis- Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence: through the acute and more chronic stages tance to those returning to New Orleans in IPeace Psychology Division of the Amer- of the disaster: the months after Katrina and Rita. A sequel ican Psychological Association, held discus- to his original paper helps us to understand sions in our APA Convention hotel suite 1. A redefinition of professional roles his own recovery from the disaster. From the for the purpose of bringing together mental given the new face of practice because international viewpoint, we have a paper health practitioners who served in the post- the health care practitioner is also a by Kathleen Kostelny, an international child Katrina recovery efforts. Two back-to-back trauma survivor; and psychosocial consultant, and Michael sessions were held. The first explored the Wessells, from Christian Children’s Fund, 2. The requirement of “extraordinary re- reactions and actions of local mental health Columbia University and Randolph-Ma- sourcefulness” in order to be an effec- responders; the second examined those of con College, psychologists who work with tive care provider; international psychosocial workers for non-governmental agencies in places where whom Katrina was an assignment like oth- 3. The ability to handle the obstacles natural disaster and ethnopolitical conflict ers they might experience working in other associated with the model of care em- have caused major population disruptions. �countries and in other parts of the U.S. ployed by the city in the post-disaster They share their concerns about the delivery period; and of care in the post-Katrina period, especially The exploration of local responders and for children. nonlocals who volunteered and worked 4. The need for ethnic and cultural sensitiv- with the locals, juxtaposed with a dialogue ity because minorities were most likely to Each author concludes with recommenda- among three international psychosocial lose their neighborhoods and the mark- tions about how to improve mental health colleagues for whom disaster work is formal- ers associated with daily routines. care when disaster hits communities in the ized, routine and part of daily work, allowed United States. There is a vast literature discussions about a number of issues. This supplement features four papers au- about infrastructure rebuilding that is as- thored by participants who share remi- sociated with the work of international First, there was an exploration of the impact nisces and reactions to post-Katrina condi- psychosocial humanitarian assistance pro- of working and living in the place where the tions. Three of these mental health workers grams. It would� be of great value for the community trauma has occurred. Second, share insights about their personal journeys. U.S. to learn from approaches that have the discussions allowed the participants to Douglas Faust, a pediatric psychologist and been successful in other parts of the world look at the utility of trauma training and director of the Department of Psychology at and incorporate the Inter-Agency Standing structured protocols when disaster strikes a Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, joins Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Mental community. Self-care as a part of the prac- with his wife, J. Kara Faust, a faculty mem- Health and Psychosocial Support in Emer- titioner’s modus operandi was a third area. ber at Southeastern Louisiana University, gency Settings (2007), now the universal Last, the forum provided an opportunity to in describing their reactions to role chang- standard. There has been a tendency in our question international workers about how es, trauma and self-care. Melinda Warner, a country to conclude that U.S. disaster man- Katrina as a disaster may be unique within neuropsychologist at the Cambridge Health agement is best, disregarding the substantial the history of community tragedies in the Alliance, Harvard Medical School, became knowledge gathered from partnerships be- U.S. and how their interventions in response involved in post-Katrina New Orleans be- tween humanitarian assistance programs to the devastation she left behind were simi- cause her young patient from New Orleans and local communities in other parts of the lar and different from their responses in other and her family became entangled between globe. Within IASC’s guidelines are proto- disaster-struck locations. a city in Texas and her native city where cols for practitioners to follow and indica- needed psycho-educational services evapo- tors of good practice. Unfortunately, there Joan Gildemeister detailed the responses of rated following the storm and flooding.Wal - is still too little information available about the local psychologists and other health- ter I. Zeichner, a clinical counselor from Bur- the needs of and supports for workers who care specialists and those who came from lington, Vermont, with more than 25 years provide assistance in their own communi- away and worked with them in her article of clinical experience, volunteered his time ties. In the United States, because we so far “Post-Katrina Program” in Peace Psychology, at a grassroots clinic in New Orleans, Com- have failed to see the efficacy of and need to Spring/Summer 2007. Drawing from our mon Ground Health Clinic. From his per- draw upon experience that is part of accept- panelists, she identified four significant -de spective as a nonlocal volunteer, he shares ed practice in situations outside the United

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 15 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster

States, our programming during the imme- Of note is that those who write here about conditions. We must hear from them if we diate crisis and recovery periods, especially their experiences as second responders have are to make progress in saving our commu- over the long haul, are not as effective as lived with their own Katrina-related trau- nities in time of crises. As peace psycholo- they might be in ameliorating suffering and ma. Their writing details the events and gists we must understand the lessons they rebuilding infrastructure. In addition, there multi-layered struggles they endured and have learned and develop with teams our is too little research that explores local explored within themselves. I thank them own protocols in our own communities. practice by indigenous practitioners living for their willingness to disclose and for their Who could better teach us than practitio- and working in their disaster-affected areas perseverance in revising multiple drafts. ners: psychologists, counselors and other here in the United States. In time of crisis, professionals serving in New Orleans post- our local mental health practitioners who Finally, the mental health specialists writ- Katrina? pick up the pieces when the professionally ing here give us a special opportunity to trained first responders leave unfortunately learn about those who serve under difficult Julie Meranze Levitt can be contacted at must reinvent tools for survival and service. physical and emotionally gut-wrenching [email protected].

Second Responders� and Second Lines: Living and Working as Psychologists in Post-Katrina New Orleans Douglas S. Faust, Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, LA and J. Kara Faust, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA

A New Orleans second line is part shuffle, part celebration, done in honor of the moment. We second line at funerals; we second line for birthdays or to celebrate just about anything. The front of the line tends to be someone carrying a gaily decorated umbrella moving two steps forward, one step back—a lot like the recovery of the Gulf Coast.

n August 29th, 2005, Katrina swept in New Orleans prior to the storm, left im- literature and from our stories. We will be- ashore and devastated an area of the mediately before the storm and flooding, gin with our initial exposure to the storm. OGulf Coast approximately the size only to return and to share with the gen- of Great Britain. Unparalleled in the scope eral population the losses of community, Our family—two psychologists, our ten- of its damage within the history of storms property, family, friends and employment. year-old son, and three cats—evacuated our in the United States, it killed many, turned We will describe our thoughts about profes- home north of Lake Pontchartrain one day thousands of families and individuals into sional and personal vulnerabilities and of- before the storm. We watched the storm refugees, and destroyed the infrastructure fer suggestions about how psychologists can come inland on Monday, and the levees of many communities. The need for men- remain resilient when working in their di- breaking and the town flooding on Tuesday tal health services, both in the crisis period saster-struck communities. Throughout the from a hotel TV in Tennessee. As the ex- and in the two years following, has been im- paper we will be referring to natural disas- tent of the storm-related damage became mense, and the impact of that shared experi- ters, distinguishing these from other kinds more obvious, we, along with the rest of the ence on providers—in terms of perspective of traumatic experience that lead to stress metropolitan area, knew the changes in our and practice—has been profound. reactions. In addition, we will describe daily lives would be profound, if we could changes in mental health services deliv- return to New Orleans at all. In this paper, we will explore questions ery in the New Orleans area over the last Throughout this initial post-Katrina pe- about the roles and personal dilemmas of two years, from when the flooding began to riod we frequently found ourselves the mental health workers who share with their subside to the present. To illustrate the per- beneficiaries of the “kindness of strang- clients the catastrophic experience and its sonal journey of local responders, we will ers” from individuals and organizations, aftermath because they live in the com- draw from our own experience as a married on the road and when we returned home. munity that is affected. Only a handful of couple and psychologists—Doug, a hospi- This change from caretaker to recipient of papers have been published from the per- tal-based pediatric senior member of a large largesse felt foreign, awkward and strange, spective of mental health workers working children’s hospital in New Orleans, and but it did mitigate feelings of helplessness, in their own communities in the United Kara, an academic psychologist working at loss and rage. States (Bernard & Rothgeb, 2000; Batten a university outside metro New Orleans. & Orsillo, 2002; Boscarino, Figley & Ad- Our experiences post-Katrina changed our We returned to the New Orleans area two ams, 2004; Levy, Haglund, Plaut, Emde, assumptions about client care, self-care, weeks after the storm when Kara’s univer- Steward, Shaw, Iioven, Buirski, Singer, how we view service as practitioners, and sity and our son’s school reopened. In the Hea & Edwards, 2004). Our focus will be how we see the need for professional activ- vernacular of post-Katrina, New Orleans, on what we call “local second responders,” ism. Our recommendations draw from the we were exceptionally lucky. Tree fall sig- those practitioners who lived and worked

16 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster nificantly damaged the roof of our home, (ARC) Response Network. Gerry Jacobs, By returning to work, we experienced ad- collapsing beams and supports, but there Senior International Disaster Manager ditional, secondary trauma when we listened was no flood damage. It would be nearly with the ARC, has spoken about the task and extended a helping hand to colleagues, two months after the storm before utilities of the disaster psychologist as one of “cre- students and clients. Over time, in response to were restored, a much shorter time period ating order and then going home” (Jacobs, the sheer need for therapeutic services in our than the year required for electricity and 2006). These workers provided few if any communities and despite reasonable self-care, potable water to become available to large direct services, but played an important we experienced therapy fatigue, at times feeling sections of New Orleans. We remained in role in monitoring the emotional status angry and resentful at our students and clients that home for ten months, moving buckets of emergency service personnel, providing because of the enormity of their needs. Beyond around when it rained, while simultaneous- debriefing services as necessary, and- par that, emotional exhaustion exacerbated the po- ly negotiating with the insurance company ticipating in psychiatric triage (American tential for burnout. for coverage on repairs. In addition to the Red Cross, 1998; National Child Traumatic direct damage, we found ourselves less re- Stress Network, 2006; Interagency Stand- Diminished work force silient to other challenges that followed. In ing Committee, 2007). Katrina psycholo- the first year after Katrina, our family had gist first responders typically came from The imperative to help was a function of multiple serious health problems, a car had areas away from the impacted area and re- the overwhelming emotional needs of the to be replaced after an accident and a dear turned home after periods of days to weeks. community, combined with the loss of friend of 30 years died unexpectedly. Nine Their exposure to any catastrophic event, mental health care providers who did not months after the storm and after repeated and Katrina is typical, is frequently intense return after the storm, or who returned re-appraisals, the “last, best offer” from our and time limited, and their psychological only to leave in the first year. In the first insurance company fell short of the esti- reactions are likely event specific (which months after the storm, New Orleans had mated costs of repair by the contractor. We may lead to PTSD) and cumulative (as a lost the majority of its professional mental sold our home of 15 years, and moved to an function of multiple events in which they health community, including as many as undamaged house in a nearby community, participate). Factors predictive of post cata- 85 percent of all psychiatrists, 40 percent another loss and another change. strophic trauma in humanitarian workers of licensed psychologists, and unknown suggest that post-traumatic stress is likely numbers of counselors and clinical social Unlike many psychologists who lived in to vary as a function of level of experience workers, resulting in the closure or limited New Orleans prior to Katrina, we were and training, proximity to the event, the re-opening of public and private resources able to maintain job continuity because specific exposures of the event, and the du- for many months after the storm (Weisler, the institutions where we worked survived ration of the activity (Benedek, Fullerton Barbee, & Townsend, 2006). the storm. Continued employment wasn’t & Ursano, 2007; Eidelson, D’Alessio & Ei- The experiences of four New Orleans based an option for many other psychologists in delson, 2003). the area, especially those employed in the psychologists outlined in an earlier paper medical centers, where most were laid off Second responders working in (Faust, Black, Abrahams, Warner, & Bel- despite tenure or seniority. lando, 2007) are representative of those their own community: who returned. One home was destroyed; Doug: Consultation with patients began by An overview another was severely damaged; and the cell phone and e-mail before I returned to New two remaining homes took relatively little Orleans, anticipating the re-opening of the hos- As second responders who took up the bur- damage. Two psychologists lost their work pital by five weeks. Those initial consultations dens of care delivery after the first respond- sites permanently; the two other sites were were split between patients with old problems ers left, and as local mental health workers, closed for varying periods. Two of the psy- exacerbated by the storm and new referrals. As we experienced the storm and its aftermath chologists chose to leave New Orleans per- time passed, the severity of clinical problems in- as a series of traumatic events. As psycholo- manently within 12 months of the storm. creased, a function in part of the lack of tertiary gists living along the Gulf Coast, we expe- psychiatric services in New Orleans. rienced, along with our colleagues and our The vacuum of formal mental health ser- patients, the effects of the primary trauma vices in the immediate post-crisis period Kara: At the university, class sizes had of the storm and the damage that it caused; did draw a number of outside organizations swollen to include evacuees from other New our secondary trauma began when we start- and individuals to New Orleans. These Orleans universities. Students who appeared ed to put our lives together. individuals and organizations were well- psychologically healthy before the storm were intentioned, and many offered alternative struggling with their losses; students who had Doug: For us as a couple, we shared with or non-traditional interventions, which marginally good adjustment prior to the storm our community direct losses such as the dam- helped the affected population in the short frequently fell apart; and some required profes- age to our home, and indirect ones such as the term, perhaps especially because they were sional intervention. The classroom became a unremitting visibility of damaged and ruined well-intentioned and caring. Particularly in new triage center for the walking wounded. homes marked with mud lines and the X’s left the first weeks and months after the storm, from body searches, silent neighborhoods un- some mental health professionals simply Hundreds of psychologist first respond- broken by light or sound and National Guard presented themselves and their services ad ers, trained and experienced in crisis and checkpoints. The shared trauma experience lib to temporary crisis shelters, even though trauma psychology, offered their services significantly increases the vulnerability of the they lacked experience or skills in trauma during the period immediately following therapist helper (Saakvitne, 2002). psychology. the storm, many working in collaboration with the American Red Cross Disaster

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 17 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster

Rebuilding of formal mental health ser- 2006). The problem was and remains to- hard to know in retrospect whether we could vices has been problematic. By the time day, two years later, that of finding timely have been helpful in the immediate crisis had federal dollars became available in the sec- mental health services for area residents. we elected to stay. Upon return to the area, ond year to facilitate recruitment and we struggled to be effective in caring for retention of health care professionals others against the backdrop of our per- to the devastated areas, many practi- sonal experience of the storm. tioners had already elected to relocate. Opportunities for employment by New The clinical literature suggests that in Orleans colleges and universities were some cases the experience of shared significantly reduced in the first six grieving and coping can facilitate the months after the storm, and contin- therapeutic process by providing a ued reorganization extending through model for effective coping. Howev- the first 18 months resulted in further er, to do so effectively requires close cuts, added to the reductions in medi- monitoring of the psychological sta- cal center staffs. The loss of security tus of the therapist in response to the associated with tenured appointments, traumatic event. In some instances, combined with our nationally reported the therapist may model ineffective problems with city crime, dramatic coping as his defenses are overrun by increased housing costs, and lack of good The pattern of psychological recovery did the re-experience of his own coping ex- schools for children has made successful not, however, follow the physical recov- perience or she may unconsciously domi- recruitment of new healthcare profession- ery of the damaged areas. Both acutely, nate the session with her own attempts als in all subspecialties difficult. and now many months after the storm, to resolve or respond to her own experi- psychological integrity has not always fol- ence at the cost of the patient’s needs. Compromised mental health lowed re-instatement of public services, As a consequence of the therapist’s own rebuilding of homes and the re-opening defense against the trauma experience, infrastructure of businesses and schools, regardless of the the therapist instead may become less Two years after Katrina, New Orleans con- affluence of the community. Maladaptive responsive to patient issues that resonate tinues to have a well-publicized scarcity responses in children two years after the with his own trauma. Similarly, over-iden- of mental health resources. Most notably, storm have been found to be highest on tification with the affected client can lead this has included a substantial reduction the West Bank, a relatively undamaged to misjudgment and poor responses (e.g., in the number of inpatient psychiatric beds part of the city (D. Walker, personal com- over-caretaking). The juxtaposition of for both children and adults, resulting in munication, August 2007). Fears became wounded therapist and wounded client an over-utilization of medical emergency phobias, marginally effective psychological can lead to other confusions for the thera- rooms as holding facilities for patients wait- defenses failed, and sadness deepened into pist that compromise both. For example, ing for beds that may be located 200-400 depression. The mental health of margin- the melding together of the issues for both miles from the city. ally adjusted individuals worsened, with the healer and the client may result in an emergence of more evident personality high risk of dual relationships. While dual Over the ensuing months, university men- disorders and other psychiatric disturbance. relationships can exist as long as they do tal health centers found themselves with In the university setting, faculty sometimes not interfere with the therapeutic process, more individuals with trauma-related prob- became crisis managers, directing the more especially in smaller communities and lems and a much higher number of signifi- obviously impaired students and faculty to those with more limited resources, there cantly compromised students. Throughout available psychological resources. are dangers associated with the therapist the metropolitan area, except for a SAM- losing distance and requiring responses SHA funded hotline to facilitate referrals to Being a healer and being from the client that are not therapeu- available resources (for which the wait was healed: The dilemmas for local tic. Trauma on top of trauma can lead to exceptionally long), the re-emergence of therapy fatigue and burnout. The double public and private mental health treatment second responders burden of client care, especially in a time centers has been limited. In the second Against this backdrop of variegated, spotty of scarce resources and personal losses, year after the storm, a coalition of national mental health programming and the influx dramatically increases such burnout po- foundations and faith-based organizations and exodus of therapists with different lev- tential. established a prevention and interven- els of expertise and interest in serving the tion program to train teachers in parochial community, the therapists who remained Confusions about extent of schools to build resilience in their students experienced a variety of feelings. Here again and limitations of professional and to assist teachers in early identification we talk about our own experience. of students needing intensive mental health responsibilities services (D. Walker, personal communica- Kara and Doug: First, there is guilt. We Doug and Kara: As professional care- tion, July 2007). Other programs, designed left hoping Katrina would miss New Orleans, givers working in communities with few mental to foster resilience in school-aged children, accepting the characterization of psychologists health resources, we felt a therapeutic impera- were made available in many of the local as unnecessary personnel. As the storm and tive to be available to—well, just about every- public school districts (D. Newman, per- damage evolved, and in the absence of experi- one. We found that most family, neighbors, sonal communication, July 2007; Osofsky, ence and training in disaster psychology, it was

18 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster clients and students only needed a chance to ment in the story sharing and the modeling acts—e.g., looting Wal-Mart for non-es- tell their story in order to validate their experi- of appropriate responses to the disclosure, sential items (TVs and furniture), neglect ence. Others came to us, overtly and covertly, helped faculty and students feel more “nor- of citizens in need of food and water, and seeking more extensive help. The consequence mal.” This model for healing also is useful mercy killings. Later, post-crisis perception of being available to so many was exhausting, at the community level when the popula- of continued failure of the local authorities but at the same time it was difficult, especially tion, although affected by the events, has a to govern influences one’s world view even in the first few months, to acknowledge our large network of in-place support from for- more significantly. No longer can we trust needs to go “off duty.” “Therapy” started in mal support services, such as churches and in government, period. This leads to pos- the morning at the gas station, continued in the schools, and from informal social networks. sible increased feelings of the need to take parking lot, spilled into our offices with “real charge at the same time that one feels more patients” and staff, and then followed us on our For those clinicians, therapists working out- isolated and helpless. The Life Boat Men- journey home. side the academic teacher-student environ- tality, that we must gather those around us ment, the task of recovering from Katrina and save them, combined with a sense that In the long run, reassertion of appropriate was more complex. Many previously medi- we cannot abandon ship, competes with boundaries and decreasing our availability and cated patients were unable to obtain their our feelings of impotence—the combina- exposure to the trauma expressed in the stories medications, and as mentioned previously, tion leading to further difficulty determin- of others were necessary to sustain personal therapeutic resources were sparse. ing and sustaining direction. balance and clinical effectiveness. Sometimes this meant simply closing the door to the office. Doug: In the first year after the storm, we followed more patients whose disturbances were Lack of professional provider Competition between work compounded by the loss of basic services and support networks in and home needs supports than at any other time in our careers. New Orleans following Katrina In some instances we were caring for patients Doug and Kara: All of us were busy Trying to help clients with whom we shared in our offices with intensive outpatient therapy (either professionally or personally), and a common catastrophe and trauma exposure who we might otherwise have hospitalized had among the clinicians who returned after the while we were trying to resolve contempo- there been psychiatric beds. Our experience was storm, there was little opportunity to share ex- raneous losses was extraordinarily difficult. closer to that viewed on TV’s MASH than it periences and take care of each other. There is a We viewed some of these conflicts as in- was of a nurturing, supportive community. standard rule within the crisis literature—it is the evitable, while others were not anticipated. responsibility of the senior/manager of mental Family needs included not only comforting Another set of problems—are health services to watch the stress levels in other each other and our son and attempting to team members and provide situational interven- create a normal routine but the requirement we, the professionals, impaired tions. After the crisis passes, who takes care of that we had to put our home back together, and with whom do we those in charge? both literally and figuratively. talk about this? Doug: The persistent question for me was to When treating clients who are in a state of Self-care what degree my emotional response to the storm significant emotional turmoil and disorga- might negatively affect my ability to respond to From our review of trauma psychology lit- nization, or unable to respond to another’s the needs of colleagues and patients—was I erature, we were struck by the caveat that anguish, or to learn from their own experi- impaired, or merely distressed? The distinction practitioners should only offer their services ence, the individual therapist needs to find between impairment and distress is not well when they are physically and psychological- and build supports outside the office walls. ly ready to perform. Typically, individuals considered in our professional organizations. providing trauma services are not subjected As time goes on, the therapist may expe- Colleague assistance programs are driven pri- directly to the trauma to the same degree rience feelings of loss and abandonment. marily by complaints to licensing boards and and in the same ways that their clients are, These feelings are anchored in the reality frequently result in disciplinary actions. On the and they go home at the end of the consul- of tangible damages to personal property, other hand, we are called upon to self-monitor tation or care period. Clearly, in our situa- the business place, and the widespread loss and seek therapy and supervision when neces- tion, there was and is no going home. of physical infrastructure, that is, actual sary. In the absence of local colleague support buildings and the services their occupants services after the storm, it would have been Work settings may facilitate the performed. There is also the rupture of the helpful to have access to outside resources, implied contract between citizen and coun- which were also made available beyond the im- healing of the psychologist— try—that is, that the citizens of the world’s mediate post-storm period. others may not sole surviving super power can reasonably expect a rapid rescue from a dangerous What we learned that Psychologists in academic situations spent situation and restoration of essential com- much of the first several weeks after classes helped us recover munity services once they, the citizens, resumed providing support for both faculty return home. The contract rupture is espe- 1. First and foremost, it has given us a and students, and in that context, build- cially hard for the clinician who relies on greater appreciation of the limits of ing community through shared story tell- government money and services to do his our skills and abilities, and more than ing (Scurfield, 2006). In addition to the job well. In the short term, the perceived anything else, has taught us to be com- benefit of “getting back to the routine” loss of that contract may be seen in some fortable with those limits. of teaching, which helps, faculty engage- distorted way as justification for anti-social

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 19 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster

2. It has increased our respect for trauma and telephone as an adjunct to face- knowing that all of us may at some and disaster training as a core compo- to-face therapy. time experience distress in the line nent of psychology curriculum, given of duty, but especially in community our new understanding that all com- 9. Residents of New Orleans now seg- disaster situations, where periods of munities may be vulnerable at some ment their life experience, referring to recreation and relaxation are a neces- point and that we, the local psycholo- the period before and the period after sity. There also must be an assumption gists, must know what to do when di- the storm. It has become routine in our that demonstrating vulnerability is not saster hits. practice to ask about the impact of Ka- a crime and that its presence requires trina in our patients’ lives and to listen support, not labels or shunning. 3. We would like to think that the Ka- more carefully to the chronology of trina experience has made us more events and experiences leading to the 2. We need to discover ways in which compassionate, deliberative decision chief complaint; in many instances the local practitioners can be supported makers in the therapy room. emerging symptom complex can still while they do the necessary work of be linked to the storm experience and recovery and reconstruction. These 4. The catastrophic damage caused by the client’s recovery from the event. financial, educational, and manpower Katrina affected the entire community, We believe this phenomenon will go supports will necessarily have to come regardless of income or race. The pat- on for some time. from outside the affected areas and will tern of recovery from that damage has require leadership at state, regional and contributed to a better understanding 10. We’ve gained an understanding that a national organizational levels. The re- of implicit racism. It is incumbent on goal of trauma recovery is not necessar- search on helpers providing sustained us as psychologists to consider the im- ily closure about the person’s trauma. care within their own communities in plications of hidden cultural and eth- Especially in a situation where the the aftermath of trauma is sparse; fur- nic beliefs that inform our thinking exposure is long-term, substantive, and ther exploration to find best ways to and practices. We are humbled by our affecting so many people, closure may support local practitioners is needed. experience, and rightfully so. not be possible or positive. Rather, the more appropriate goals are to under- 3. Psychologists in the affected area need 5. Katrina has taught us that there are, stand the process of recovery, and to help from non-local colleagues who under catastrophic circumstances, find, develop and support interperson- will send supplies and provide tempo- limits to the amount of time and en- al resilience, which will help increase rary respite in other locations during ergy we can bring to the therapeutic one’s coping ability. and after the emergency phase. For ex- process: that when we become over- ample, in the immediate aftermath of burdened we become less effective as 11. Finally, the experience of Katrina has Katrina, psychologists from other parts therapists. The catastrophe experience caused us to have a deeper apprecia- of the country helped in a number of elicits from the professional caretaker tion of the value and contribution of inventive ways. A dedicated website a therapeutic imperative, which while the “talking therapies.” There is noth- (www.DisplacedPsychologists.com) was appearing appropriate, can be seduc- ing like the absence or inaccessibility developed to help in temporary or tive and overwhelming. Establishing to medication to re-affirm the strength longer term professional relocation. time limits for office work is as critical and impact of psychotherapy. Association of Psychology Postdoc- as maintaining boundaries within the toral and Internship Centers (APPIC) therapeutic encounter. Recommendations for and other organizations facilitated the transfer of students newly into their 6. The experience has reminded us of the facilitating the work of internships and post-doctoral training, importance of self-care to ensure that second responders in their and psychological testing companies we are able to juggle our different and own communities after a donated replacement equipment for sometimes competing roles. Central to these trainees. Individuals provided the process of recovery was/is our rec- catastrophic event in the U.S. temporary inexpensive or free hous- ognition that under even the most dif- 1. We need to move as a profession to- ing outside the impacted area. Perhaps ficult of circumstances, we must make ward an acceptance of the legitimacy recreational homes could be registered choices. In addition to becoming em- of “distressed” psychologists and the es- to provide overworked locals an oppor- powered, making choices is a first step tablishment of mechanisms for address- tunity for rest and recreation. Funds for in recognizing our own needs. ing their needs prior to the appearance psychologist retreats could benefit lo- of impairment (American Psycho- cal practitioners in traumatized areas. 7. Part of the consequence of the shared logical Association, 2006; O’Connor, trauma experience is our assumption 2001). We need to shift from a focus 4. In anticipation of a catastrophic inci- that we and the client have suffered at on “impaired professionals” toward the dent, it is incumbent upon practitioners some level, in the same way that the establishment of colleague assistance to anticipate the need for temporary or other has. In turn, this insight increas- programs that acknowledge that stress longer term displacements from their es the therapeutic alliance and allows may be a by-product of care-giving, es- practice communities and make suitable for a faster recovery. pecially in times when the entire com- preparations. This might include bank- 8. The experience has increased our munity is suffering. We need to make ing of credentials and maintenance of comfort in the use of the internet it acceptable and possible for psycholo- multi-state licensure. gists to take leave from the trenches,

20 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster

5. State associations and the APA should able at the graduate and continuing educa- Faust, D., Black, F.W., Abrahams, J., Warner, M. offer to help by identifying people tion levels. Some professional schools have & Bellando, J. (in press, 2007) After the storm: and groups that can fill in where ser- identified specific training tracks for those Katrina’s impact on psychological practice in New Orleans. Professional Psychology. vices are missing beyond the immedi- interested in disaster psychology (e.g., Uni- Interagency Standing Committee (2007), ate post crisis period. This might take versity of Denver; University of South Da- Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial the form of an appropriately licensed kota), but leadership for education in this Support in Emergency Settings. Downloaded and insured “boomer corps” of retired area also must come from state and national 9/30/07 from http://www.istss.org/resources/ psychologists willing to deploy for a organizations. In addition to identifying Guidelines%20IASC%20Mental%20Health%20 specific period of time for service pro- and providing training in best-practices, Psychosocial.pdf. vision, to advise and collaborate on psychologists must foster and encourage Levy, M., Haglund, P., Plaut, L., Emde, R., Stew- the rebuilding of direct services, and the development of effective peer support art, M. Shaw, R., Ilvonen, C., Buirski, C., Singer, M., Hea, R., & Edwards, W. (2004) Healing for the support of local practitioners. networks for those responding to disaster in after Columbine: Reflections of psychoanalytic Such a service could be viewed as an their own communities. responders to community trauma. Journal of extension of the APA crisis response the American Psychoanalytic Association, 52:3, network, with help extended beyond References 759-781. the acute crisis period. American Red Cross (1998). Disaster Mental Lubetkin, B. (2002) A behavior therapist’s Health Services (Red Cross 3043). Washington, response to the World Trade Center Disaster: A 6. At the national level, we need financial DC: Author. personal narrative. The Behavior Therapist, 25(2) assistance and coordination of resources American Psychological Association (2007) 30-32. consistent with the level of help pro- Disaster Response Network Member Guidelines. National Child Traumatic Stress Network/Na- http://www.apa.org/practice/drnguide.html#refs, tional Center for PTSD (2006) Psychological First vided by the U.S. when disaster strikes downloaded 9/18/07. Aid: Field Operations Guide, 2nd Edition. (2006) in other parts of the world. Consistent American Psychological Association Board of http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/manu- with international practices, those ser- Professional Affairs Advisory Committee on Col- als/smallerPFA_2ndEditionwithappendices.pdf. vices should be offered in a culturally league Assistance (2006) Advancing Colleague O’Connor, M. (2001). On the etiology and sensitive way, using pre-existing formal Assistance in Professional Psychology. Washing- effective management of professional distress and informal community leaders who ton, DC: Author. and impairment among psychologists. Profes- are knowledgeable about local needs Barnard, A. & Rothgeb, I. (2000) Rebuilding a sional Psychology: research and practice. 32(4), 345-350. and resources. We need to foster com- private practice in psychology following a hur- ricane: The experiences of two psychologists. Osofsky, J. (2006, September). “Resilience munication during the post-crisis period Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, in Katrina’s children in the aftermath of the both within and across mental health 31(4), 393-397. disaster.” Paper presented at a Congressional disciplines, especially when infrastruc- Batten, S., & Orsillo, S. (2002) Therapist reac- staff briefing, Children in the Eye of the Storm: ture is compromised or destroyed, as was tions in the context of collective trauma. The Lessons Learned From the Hurricane’s Children. the case in New Orleans. Behavior Therapist. 25(2) 36-38. Washington, DC. Retrieved December 13, 2006, from www.srcd.org/katrina.html. Benedek, D., Fullerton, C., Ursano, R. (2007) Concluding remarks First responders: Mental health consequences Reid, J. (1990). A Role for Prospective Longi- of natural and human made disasters for public tudinal Investigations in the Study of Traumatic The continuing contemporary history of health and public safety workers. Annual Re- Stress and Disasters. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1990, 20(20), 1695-1703. community-based traumatic and cata- view of Public Health, 28:55-68. Downloaded from arjournals.annualreviews.org on 4/25/07. Saakvitne, K (2002) Shared trauma: The strophic events (the Oklahoma City bomb- therapist’s increased vulnerability. Psychoana- ing, the 9/11 attacks, the Columbine shoot- Boscarino, J., Figley, C., & Adams, R. (2004) Compassion fatigue following the September 11 lytic Dialogues. 12(3): 443-449. ings, Hurricanes Andrew, Ivan, Katrina terrorist attacks: A study of secondary trauma Scurfield, R (2006) Post-Katrina aftermath and and Rita, and the more recent shootings at among New York City social workers. Interna- helpful intervention on the Mississippi Gulf Virginia Tech) and the perceived increased tional Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 6, Coast. Traumatology. 12(2), 104-120. risk of terrorist attacks in the United States 57-66. Weisler, R., Barbee, J., & Townsend, M. (2006) suggest that training in trauma work can no Eidelson, R., D’Alessio, G., & Eidelson, J. (2003). Mental health and recovery in the Gulf Coast longer be the domain only of highly spe- The impact of September 11 on psychologists. after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Journal of the Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, American Medical Association. 296(5): 585-588. cialized trauma specialists. Rather, it is in- 34(2), 144-150. creasingly likely that all psychologists may Ehrenreich, J. (2002) Bibliography: Managing The authors want to acknowledge the be called upon to respond to local needs. stress in humanitarian, health care and human encouragement, support and strong editorial Therefore, we must ensure that training rights workers. Downloaded from Mental hand of Dr. Julie Levitt in the preparation of on techniques and emotional preparation Health Without Borders @ http://www.mhwwb. this paper. in the event of local disaster is made avail- org 093007.

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Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 21 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster Through the Looking-Glass Reflections of a Katrina Participant-Observer

Melinda S. Warner, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School

I am a child psychologist. For the first 10 or 15 years of my career, I carried a mixed case load: at least one neuropsychological, psychological or developmental evaluation every week, with the rest of my working hours spent seeing children whose lives had been touched by trauma —generally physical or sexual abuse. I did therapy, and I conducted abuse and neglect evaluations in conjunction with local child protection agencies. I specialized in seeing the very youngest children referred to every agency for which I worked. Eventually, though, the work became too gut-wrenching for me as a solo practitioner—I gave up my trauma-centered work and focused more on testing and assessment. Even so, my more “classically trained” neuropsychological colleagues say that my assessment approach is unusual.

tell my patients’ parents not materialized in the way I would have to think of me as they do their pri- predicted had I been asked prior to what I nd then it started to rain. I mary care provider and to contact me have come to refer to as “The Storms.” Part with questions and concerns as their child of what follows tells what it was like to be I honestly do not recall if I paid much at- grows and develops, thereby creating an involved in what, at approximately 90,000 tention to Hurricane Katrina before it came ongoing relationship. Perhaps my encour- square miles (233,100 km2), is estimated close to New Orleans. My parents live in agement for families to remain connected to be the largest area of natural disaster in southern� Florida. It is possible that I was with me is because I tend to see children the history of the United States. Part is my alarmed and then relaxed when the storm with severe, life-affecting issues rather story of what it was like to be an outside passed over them or that my adrenaline than those for whom one evaluation will observer of that chaos. But my story encom- system had been on high-alert for so long be enough. I have heard other clinicians passes more—a mix of being both an out- over the course of that hurricane season refer to certain children’s situations as “a sider and an insider, neither entirely in, nor that I have simply erased the memory in Melinda case,” not usually a good sign for completely outside of the event— a partici- an unconscious act of self-preservation. the child. With this background delving pant observer, if you will. And interwoven I had already been through several severe into extreme experience—trauma, child within my narrative is how my view of the hurricanes with my parents since they had abuse, life-threatening and life-changing world, people, systems and definitions of moved south—Ivan and Charlie among neurological disorders, you’d have thought ‘public health’ and the practice of psychol- them as well as several less prominent hur- I’d be unflappable—ready for anything. I ogy have changed over the past two years. ricanes. I knew that no matter what, they never expected that the weather would would not evacuate. change my life. The Immediate Crisis Period Other parts of the weekend before, during In August of 2005, I was 45 years old and had As I mentioned before, I currently practice and immediately after Katrina hit New Or- already lived through tornadoes, floods, bliz- almost exclusively pediatric neuropsychol- leans are crystal clear in my mind. It was zards and a couple of hurricanes. And, yeah, ogy. In July 2005, I was asked to see a young, warm in Boston that week. I was studying I had an ugly memory or two from child- medically complex child from New Orleans for the American Board of Pediatric Neu- hood, mostly from flooding when the edge of whose parents wanted an assessment con- ropsychology (ABPdN) exams and my a storm coming up the Atlantic clipped the ducted by someone without ties or poten- apartment was an unholy mess. I rotated al- small town we lived in outside of Philadel- tial loyalties to her home school district. most mechanically through various tasks— phia, but nothing really awful. I have lived Since she was visiting in the Boston area studying, writing, quilting and sleeping in the Mid-West or Northeast United States during the summer, the parents wanted the took up most of my days. Study, write, sew, all my life. That kind of thing happens. I was evaluation in Boston, where my practice is sleep. Study, write, sew, sleep. I remember not aware of anyone in my family who actu- based. The parents were divorced, with one with painful clarity standing at the ironing ally stopped to take notice of these things. living in Massachusetts. Each had remarried board, sweating in the heat, pressing open and had a blended family. The evaluation a freshly sewn seam and watching news That is not true for me anymore. The hur- went off without a hitch. I contacted fellow coverage of the flooding in New Orleans, ricane season of 2004-2005 changed every- clinicians in New Orleans to discover where wondering where my patient and her New thing. I never saw it coming: I didn’t have in the ‘legalese’ of the Louisiana statutes I Orleans-based family were. How much hurricanes or major life changes penciled could find the “magic phrases” that would television were her half-siblings in Boston into my Day Planner® . help the family access the services the child watching? Where were the colleagues I’d would need following her return home and consulted when writing the child’s report? I live just outside of Boston, Mass. Not began to work on my report. How could I find them? How could I ensure exactly the meteorological center of hurri- that all of them were safe? Suddenly my cane activity. I had planned for many other trauma training kicked in, and I knew I was things in August through October of 2005 doing exactly the wrong thing. Not only and beyond. Somehow, these plans have

22 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster was I over-exposing myself to trauma, but to join them in here-and-now, pragmatic wouldn’t return until she had ready access I had paired this psychic pain with a pre- problem-solving. There was conflict among to a hospital. Finally, the ARC/DRN coor- viously soothing, leisure activity—sewing. the adults about what was best for the child dinator said in frustration, “You don’t get it. I was poisoning something that had previ- and the family as a whole with concomitant It’s gone. There’s nothing there. nothing.” ously been associated only with pleasure. I role confusions and power issues. Some- snapped the television off and e-mailed my times I found myself needing to be very I think I replied with equal exasperation, patients, telling them to do the same. directive, employing a “corporate decision “No, you don’t get it—I’ve got a missing making” model of psychotherapy, which kid down there who needs medical care and Already, in the first 48 hours of crisis and meant orders from above. I morphed into a scared parent up here. I’ve got to find out from 1000 miles away, I had become like my the ‘expert consultant.’ The requirement of what is safe and what isn’t.” I think we both colleagues in New Orleans—using e-mail taking charge and creating structure within hung up incredibly dissatisfied with our in- and the available network news as primary the therapy context has been a significant ability to “fix” what needed fixing. sources of information and communication. shift for me in my work. Unlike my Louisiana colleagues, I could Hurricane Rita—The Next Assault simply pick up the telephone and call my Early in the aftermath of Katrina, I real- Hurricane Rita hit approximately one month patient and her family. But I didn’t. I don’t ized that I hadn’t seen any postings on the later, increasing anxieties for me and the know why. Maybe it was old training telling professional listservs from either of the Louisiana-Massachusetts family. By now, I me that therapists don’t call their patients Louisiana psychologists with whom I had had established several new ways to deliver first, they wait to be called. Maybe I knew I previously conferred about the child. I sent “therapy” and new people to support. In addi- could get to them more quickly via e-mail up an S.O.S. for them. tion to the families of since at least one of the adults was probably Kind graduate students my original patient, at work. Maybe it was simply too painful to and other colleagues of to whom I provided talk to the family directly. theirs helped me find “You don’t get it. telephone support as and resume communica- well as regular e-mail tion with them. Because and consultation to Again, like the clinicians in so many cell towers were It’s gone. the children’s schools down and the demand Louisiana, the question of in Massachusetts, I for cell time was so great, continued to check “who is my patient” people who had cell There’s nothing there. in regularly with the phone numbers with area American Red Cross had a different answer. codes in affected areas of- in an effort to obtain ten had difficulty placing Now, in addition to the child I had test- reliable information and receiving calls. All of Nothing.” ed and her immediate family (who just about the recovery their calls were, at some hours before the storm had evacuated to of infrastructure in point, routed through Houston), the Massachusetts branch of New Orleans. Me- storm-affected areas. her family became my concern. My work dia accounts about hospital re-openings were Colleagues who changed their cell numbers on behalf of the child and her family was contradictory. incomplete. Because the New Orleans to area codes outside of the storms’ effects healthcare infrastructure was essentially were easier to reach. However, at times the I also provided “back-up” services for six non-existent in those first few weeks and cell phone difficulties required one or both clinicians I knew who were working in New because the Louisiana branch did not have parties to arrange to be at a given place at Orleans. It is an assumption in the disaster an advocate for her in Louisiana or Texas, a specific time to attempt an audible cell response community that so-called “first it seemed both irresponsible and unethical tower connection. Some days it worked; responders” should work in time-limited to terminate service. other days it did not. The days when I could shifts and leave their assignment after a reach no one and had to rely solely on the limited tour of duty. But those attempting The child’s family members welcomed national news outlets were incredibly frus- to provide service to the child who was to my support. By e-mail, land-line and cell- trating. return to New Orleans didn’t have the op- phones, we worked together at all hours tion of “rotating out”; there were no work- of the day and night. We communicated As dedicated as the national and local jour- nalists were, they couldn’t give me needed ers to replace them. These clinical and about basic safety needs, how to minimize information about friends or my relocated neuropsychologists couldn’t leave for re- the exposure of the children to information patients. I turned to my own family to ac- spite and anyway, had no where to go. New and rumors for which they were not devel- cess information. My father explained that Orleans was their community and they be- opmentally ready, made plans for adult self- the office of the chain of newspapers for lieved that their professional services were care, discussed ways to occupy many people which he worked had been flattened in required. Every day these “second respond- of wide-ranging ages in one small hotel the storm. He didn’t know any more than ers” drove from wherever they were staying room, and discussed the pros and cons of I did. My local American Red Cross/Disas- (which frequently changed), through areas temporarily relocating the Louisiana family ter Response Network (ARC/DRN) liaison of physical devastation to their offices (also to the Northeast. Traditional, non-direc- thought I’d lost my mind when I called changing venues with fewer amenities), car- tive therapy, my model of choice and train- to see if she could tell me which hospitals ried out their work and then traveled home ing, simply wasn’t appropriate—the family in New Orleans were open. My patient’s to begin the evening ritual of managing the needed direction. I was asked by the adults mother was anxious to take her home but sights and requirements of their personal

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 23 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster spaces, including correspondence with in- That next week is a blur in my memory first hand. I still can’t find words for the surance adjustors and completing FEMA —last minute preparations for the Board level of fear and anxiety I felt as I waited for forms. These clinicians described case loads exams and fighting by phone with a Mas- Wilma to hit. at least as high as before the storm, with cli- sachusetts hospital about whether or not ents whose issues were markedly more acute they would release the New Orleans child’s At the same time, I needed a way of inform- than they had been pre-Katrina. I spoke medical records, including those generated ing patients about where I was and how I with six of these professionals—all of them by another facility. I argued that the hos- could be reached. Pre-that hurricane-filled seasoned, solid, experienced clinicians—by pital was ethically obligated to release all summer, I routinely “covered” my own cell phone or corresponded via e-mail once of her records because original data was patients by cell phone and e-mail. With or twice daily. housed in hospitals no longer in existence. Wilma these methods of informing might I wandered through unfamiliar neighbor- not work. Now post-Katrina I had many My Katrina involvements caused friction at hoods near my parents’ home in Florida, patients in my practice who would be terri- home and at work. My family and colleagues trying to find solid cell phone signals so fied that I was potentially in the “hit zone” characterized me as “obsessed.” They blamed that I could keep track of my New Orleans of what was variably predicted to be a Cat- the people of New Orleans for living in a colleagues. egory 3-4 storm. I needed a new plan. doomed city filled with poverty and precari- ousness because it is below sea level. They My parents (both highly accomplished jour- could not understand why I, from away, had t one point, I wondered nalists in Fort Myers, Florida and even clos- become compelled to work with people I had er to the predicted landfall of Wilma than not yet even met in person. Several thought about how many state lines I I was in Tampa) refused to make a “family safety plan.” They didn’t understand that I that the storm had been “overplayed” in the had transgressed by maintaining news. After all, they reasoned, the Gulf � was professionally obligated to make plans for storms were “local news” without national contact with patients by my practice. implications. Some family and friends told They had been through hurricanes before me that the United States government calling in states where I was and were habituated to such events. In fact, should “just admit we screwed up and move one parent, in a moment of utter frustration on.” These same people failed to appreciate not licensed and then decided about my insistence for emergency contin- how the relationship between clinicians gency plans, said in exasperation that the and their patient or a family intensifies un- that this simply didn’t matter. storm wasn’t even going to hit Florida! My der acute distress—they simply did not un- I reasoned that no state authority would brother Dan, in Nashville, understood my derstand the trauma experience that can fault me under these dire circumstances. predicament and agreed to be the “point of cause feelings of helplessness, self-doubt and contact” for a Boston-based colleague who the inability to easily make solid, indepen- As these things go, the Board exam was fine. would provide care in my absence. dent decisions because one’s daily reality has I passed in spite of all my angst. The ensu- become unpredictable and burdened with ing National Academy of Neuropsychology In addition, I planned how I would com- events more bizarre than one has ever imag- (NAN) convention, my first big meeting, municate with patients. I sent e-mails to ined or dreamed—even in one’s worst night- was a great diversion. Unfortunately, Moth- patients about whom I was most concerned, mares. Some of my conflicts with colleagues er Nature was not yet done with me. telling them I was safe and detailing who and family resulted in rifts that have yet to they could call in a crisis or if they were un- heal. With some I have learned to withhold Hurricane Wilma, the third largest storm of able to reach me and concerned about my comment and move the conversation in a the season (after Katrina and Rita, respec- safety. I also told these clients how I would more benign direction because I don’t be- tively) descended upon southern Florida maintain close contact with the covering lieve they are able to grasp what severe crisis just as the convention ended. NAN con- clinician. The relaying of accurate infor- reactions entail. For others, Katrina and her ference organizers ultimately did not cancel mation became a major concern because I aftermath is a topic I have learned to elimi- the conference, but many individual pre- had seen the negative effects of information nate as an area of discussion, just as I have senters left early, worried about predictions black outs during the previous storms. I de- learned to shut out their political positions of storm damage as far north as our meeting cided that fifteen years of covering my own and other opinions that I find personally of- site. I had neither the option nor the in- practice had not served my clients well and fensive. I guess friends and family and I are clination to leave the conference early. My that this practice would change. aware that no rapprochement on the Gulf maternal aunt had an appointment with a storms issue is possible—we remain commit- pulmonary transplant team at Tampa Gen- Eventually, I was able to convince my aunt ted to our friendship for other reasons. eral Hospital (TGH) the morning Wilma and mother to come to Tampa the night be- was due. My family had worked long and fore the medical appointment. I told them All through September and into October, hard for that appointment and, since I was that downed trees might make travel more my cell phone and e-mail contacts with New the most medically knowledgeable family difficult and that being late for the meeting Orleans clinicians continued. Then, toward member and knew that evidence of family wouldn’t look good. The three of us spent the end of October, I flew to Florida to take support was critical for getting a patient on the night in my hotel room. I’d been there the ABPdN Boards in Tampa. Before I left a transplant list, I wasn’t leaving. But that for 10 days now. My mother and I shared home, as is my usual practice, I reminded pa- meant that I was about to be in the same one bed, my aunt and her oxygen tank, the tients about my cell phone and e-mail con- vulnerable position as my friends and pa- other. Mom and I slept fitfully, knowing that tacts should they need to reach me. tients who had weathered Katrina and Rita my father was back in Fort Myers working

24 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster at the newspaper. We kept the television on member him making a deal with the “head all night, and the two of us took unspoken guy” of the organization who agreed to his turns watching over the others. When one joining if he could pass a test demonstrating of us turned over, the other whispered, “Not knowledge of its history and rituals. As I re- yet. Go back to sleep,” meaning that Wil- call, the expectation was that the leadership ma had not made landfall. When Wilma was certain he would not pass. My grandfa- finally passed Fort Myers, I remember being ther, who had only completed eight years the first to wake. When my mother rolled of school before he went to work just like over, I whispered, ”It’s gone. It’s OK. Go the rest of his brothers, studied so hard for back to sleep.” By mid-morning, we were that exam that there was no way he could able to reach my father by cell phone, but fail. He wasn’t going to let anyone keep him only briefly, as the power was out and many from doing something just because others cell towers were down. Dad was safe and at didn’t think he was good enough. In ad- his office. He hadn’t yet seen his home or dition, I remember my parents throwing a listserv that we should ask parents not only neighborhood, but in the course of his re- welcoming party for a new employee at my about physical and sexual trauma, but also porting duties he had spoken by cell phone father’s newspaper where no one showed up about potential trauma outside the immedi- to a neighbor who reported trees disap- except the guest of honor and his wife. The ate family, such as that related to being in a pearing as he looked outside. The rain and husband was the newspaper’s first African- military family or experiencing community wind so limited visibility that he couldn’t American hired for a professional position. loss, I was told that there wasn’t time during see through the rain and wind well enough an intake to explore these issues—that such to know the fate of the trees. In addition, In spite of all of this “priming” in my early incidents, after all, have a low incidence of Dad said that power lines were down and years, I find myself newly sensitized to dif- occurring. Apparently, unlike others, I rou- land-line phones, unusable. The drive back ference, about how we as part of a nation, tinely see patients who come from places to Fort Myers from Tampa was quiet, very culture, and as individuals treat people who where they survived not only natural disas- quiet. We could see the effects of the storm don’t meet whatever standard it is that ters but also human-made ones. I have seen on both sides of the road—and we could see we’ve set for “worthiness.” I have become that friends are survivors, too. At my last the FEMA trailers that were still in place more sensitive about how we as profession- quilt guild meeting, six of the nine women from the previous year’s hurricanes. als make clinical judgments and whether sitting at my table had connections to one these might be different had the patient of the Gulf States. Regardless of how they Over the Long Term been identified as part of another racial, label their feelings, patients and friends cultural and/or economic group. For exam- alike have expressed that their post-crisis ple, if staff agrees that a child of a certain lives have differed from their lives before I’m not the same person age should not be “co-bedding” with his the experience. They may not yet be able or her parents, but no one suggests calling to verbalize how, but they are quite clear I was before the storms. in child protective services, I might ask if that they are changed at their core. Unfor- I won’t ever be, and I’m we would make that same decision if the tunately, community trauma is no longer family were of a lower SES or belonged to simply “local news”—it affects all of us. not sure I want to be. a minority group which we believe to have child-rearing practices consistent with that Since the storms I have questioned how I was raised in a home where the effects practice. This is even with an awareness we, as a profession, support one another of race, class and privilege were discussed. that cultural differences vary considerably informally and within our guilds and state These were critical, alive issues for my par- from family to family. associations. Over the past two years, my ents and my grandparents. They felt strong- experiences supporting colleagues in the ly that people who were “different” got Gulf states, my supervision of pre- and post- treated badly and that social justice should I think about how we are doctoral interns, and my coverage of prac- be equally available to all. I was aware of tices for mental health professionals who these issues even as a young child when I training the next generation have had illnesses that have temporarily napped on the couch in my grandmother’s of psychologists. side-lined them from work, have increased office at the YWCA—back when the Y’s my belief that we, as professionals, continue were largely rooming houses, not trendy Are we giving them the skills to stigmatize those within our numbers who athletic clubs. I remember asking her why show signs of emotional “weakness,” that other people called her “Mrs. Mulholland” they need to help families who is, those who have physical disorders or while she addressed them by their first mental reactions to extreme stress. There names. She explained that this custom was have been through these kinds is no mechanism to support them within based on her status in the office hierarchy— our guild associations until they reach the she was an administrator, they were assis- of mass disasters? level of “impairment” and are open to sanctions by Boards of Registration. This tants. Ethnic or cultural differences were Do we teach them to even ask about ex- unfortunate reality has kept many psy- not reasons for this practice. I remember an posure to community trauma? I have no chologists from seeking the support they organization that my grandfather wasn’t al- doubt that we as a profession need to be need in times of trouble. I consider my- lowed to join because the restaurant he and sensitively asking questions about loss and self privileged to know psychologists and my grandmother owned served liquor. I re- change. When I suggested on a professional

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 25 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster

psychiatrists who have had the courage niques of adequate rest, exercise and en- when the only local grocery that carried a to share their struggles with me and with gagement in enjoyed activities are neither child’s favorite treat closed. And always, whom I can safely do the same. Unfortu- possible nor sufficient. I searched the lit- I kept my cell phone charged and on and nately, many clinicians in the Gulf states erature for research exploring how disasters checked my e-mail accounts several times have had no one with whom to talk. They affect healthcare providers who live in the daily, answering messages as soon as I could. have been so busy trying to care of for pa- disaster zone and found nothing. My con- Even if we only discussed the weather. tients and other (non-mental health) care versations with a few major traumatologists providers that they haven’t had the time from different parts of the country were or the access to resources that would make disappointing. These experts admitted that changed jobs after the storm. care possible. In addition, because there is they have very little, if any, literature about I had thought I would spend my professional still stigma associated with clinicians ex- treating caregivers functioning under acute years at the institution where I was employed pressing emotions, reactions and needs, and chronic stress conditions in their own �pre-Katrina. My new job is at an agency that colleagues in New Orleans report an un- communities. The most pertinent refer- is an alliance between a metropolitan De- willingness to seek help for themselves. ences I could find spoke about assistance for partment of Public Health and a major uni- first responders, the highly trained caregiv- versity medical school. I am still a pediatric I believe we as a profession ers who usually do not live and work in their neuropsychologist. I still see every child who own community. Dr. Robert Ursano, Chief comes in the door. But somehow, working must provide support for local of Psychiatry, United States Military Medi- for an agency whose stated mission includes cal School, Institute for Traumatic Stress, providing public health services seems to be mental health people who live was recently asked at a meeting in Cam- exactly where I am ‘called’ to be. bridge, Massachusetts, about resources for and work in disaster zones. mental health workers who live and work I’m not sorry that these storms came into The action I have taken on this issue is in the same disaster site. His advice, citing my life. I grieve for the losses that so many to join a new APA-sponsored listserv his own research with mortuary workers, experienced at so many different levels. that is looking at Colleague Assistance was to remind those living and working in And I grieve that we as a nation and as a Programs. I’ve also joined the Ethics disaster areas not to say, “This could have profession failed to respond more effective- Committee in one of the states in which I been me.” ly. But I’m not sorry that I got buffeted in practice. We provide one-on-one consul- the winds a bit as well. I’m grateful for what Clinicians in the Gulf states continued to tations to members of the state psycho- I’ve been allowed to give to others and at serve their communities in spite of their logical association. Eventually, I hope to how much trust they placed in me. And I’m own suffering. Rather than argue with those develop a Colleague Assistance Program grateful to those clinicians who allowed me who worked long hours, I sent them small that is supportive and preventive, rather to sit with them and bear witness. gifts of things they could no longer eas- than disciplinary. ily obtain—professional journals when the In extraordinary circumstances, the usual mail no longer delivered anything except by common sense and intuitive self-care tech- overnight or 1st class. Favorite snack foods

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26 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 ��� Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster Grass Roots Mental Health Disaster Preparedness: A Call to Action

Walter I. Zeichner, Private Practice, Burlington, Vermont

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005. Towns were wiped out, and large portions of the major city of New Orleans reduced to rubble. Millions of people have been affected; the social and material lives of hundreds of thousands have been forever changed.

arrived in Louisiana in early October. I In early October I was the only counselor at people generally have a need to begin volunteered at Common Ground Health the clinic. There were also massage thera- their healing by putting into context what IClinic, which was started by street med- pists, acupuncturists and other “non-medi- they’ve experienced so that they can con- ics within a week of Katrina. As a result of cal” people offering support to returnees. struct the possibility of a future. Without observation and accounts of others I met, Since then there have been a number of the process of exploring their narrative, de- it became clear to me that the Red Cross very effective mental health practitioners spair and hopelessness may set in. The cir- and FEMA were often not serving returnees at the clinic who come for weeks at a time. cumstances for sharing personal stories are effectively. Little or no paperwork and im- essential to the recovery process—sharing mediate care drew thousands to the clinic. Disasters of this magnitude are approached narratives requires being in a trusting rela- Over 10,000 patient visits were recorded at on a myriad of levels, from the political and tionship: a traumatized person who is able the clinic by the end of 2005. economic issues as overarching ones that to talk about his experiences and reactions will ultimately determine whether a com- with an empathic person soon after the un- Early on, during the early wave of returnees, munity will survive to the practical, nuts settling event will soon thereafter start cre- I did a lot of listening. People told stories of and bolts ones, such as those concerned ating the context. Often that sharing soon death and destruction. It was hot and hu- with medical needs and the physical sur- turns away from retelling the trauma events mid so I passed out large quantities of water roundings of individuals. Essential among and moves on to a search to find ways to to people waiting to see a doctor or nurse, the latter levels is the emotional well-being normalize what has taken place. The route who also did a lot of listening. I discovered of those affected by the disaster. In this case to that normalizing is often through ac- quickly that people needed to talk, but they we’re discussing post Katrina and Rita New knowledgement by the listener that the also needed tools for distracting themselves Orleans, but there are daily natural and events and reactions have occurred. from the repeating loops of thought they human-made disasters occurring globally, were experiencing in response to their trau- which traumatize people and add to the col- ma. This type of circular thinking is easily lective trauma of people everywhere. This istening allows the pathologized, but in my view this kind of paper explores my experience and reactions rumination is a healthy response to feeling to the post-Katrina-Rita period from Octo- helper to begin to form ideas overwhelmed. ber 2005 to January 2006 and my recom- about what’s happened—the mendations about how to handle trauma in � the future that results from natural disasters listener, too, needs the context The scale of the disaster was and man-made events. The paper was com- too big for people to wrap pleted in January 2006. of the narrative to be effective. their minds around. The first thing to do is to find a place As more and more people return to the site where the survivors are. Then find a place and need to be heard, more and more lis- I told them this and that the thought loops to help out where you can sit and start lis- teners are needed. That which is shared is were where their minds were getting stuck tening. I was fortunate to find the Com- often so unsettling that listeners, who must as they tried to understand how their lives mon Ground Health Clinic. Looking for be empathic, will become emotionally filled were changed. I recommended distraction the street medics in any crisis situation is and may lose the capacity to keep listening. and healthy denial: look at the sky, eat some- a good move because these helpers provide Additional listeners will be needed as will thing, have a conversation with someone, whatever health care they can and usually care for the saturated listeners. It is possible read something light, watch a comedy on know what’s going on in their community. to slow the rate at which saturation occurs TV, craft something—do anything to give They have a good track record of organizing for listeners if they are in communication the mind something on which to focus and themselves on the spot into a functioning with empathic others, people with whom that can be grasped. This approach seemed clinic. This faculty makes them likely allies they can share, squeezing the sponge as it to help. People came back to the clinic and and colleagues. were, so there is room for more listening. told me they were feeling better and were more able to approach daily tasks. Some people need to tell their stories right The advantage of more listeners and emo- away, some later on, some with rapidity, tional support of listeners is that listeners some more slowly. Regardless, however, are sustained and the experience of empa-

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 27 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster thy is shared more and more widely as the cal population. In the case of New Orleans, stories are passed around and people, even generations of government insufficiency those who are remote from the disaster site riends or relatives, remnants (among these, poorly equipped schools itself, come to care about what has hap- in minority neighborhoods, badly main- pened. The downside to this approach of of community, provide people tained streets and water mains, and inad- increasing the number of listeners is that equate electrical service in economically the trauma is shared and the collective con- with connection, context, disadvantaged neighborhoods), thrown sciousness and unconscious are changed; � into chaos by the disaster, combined with the human organism becomes inoculated and continuity. politicized federal initiatives to signifi- by more toxic trauma. Finding these supports also helps to re- cantly reduce the compromised services build lives. Speaking with a counselor is already in existence. Better, however, to dissipate the not the only way people are heard or need to be heard. The collapse of infrastructure impact of the trauma among In New Orleans during the post-storms pe- in New Orleans affected the many prepared individuals riod there was the chaos of government bu- reaucracy and physical debris. The system mental health system along than for few persons to absorb associated with the rebuilding of the city seemed at times more focused on adherence with other services. Practitioners its full concentration. to rules than on developing approaches that could benefit the individual in need. Gov- themselves were traumatized. Consider the plight of Vietnam Veterans, ernment and relief infrastructure “moved a small group with much trauma contained on” to their next phase of relief and survi- New Orleans prior to Katrina and Rita within them, who received too little treat- vors had to jump on the bandwagon when it had not been a place that attracted many ment and acknowledgement too late. The rolled by or miss out on assistance, whether private psychotherapists. Pre-storms the number of suicides among Vietnam Vets or not they were psychologically ready and/ mental health system existed mainly in since the early 1980s exceeds the number or prepared to do so. hospitals and clinics. The hurricanes dam- killed in combat. aged the buildings in which mental ser- Listening, helping people reconnect with vices had been delivered and drove away Time passes and the next wave of people community where possible, and assisting personnel, so what was left at first was the who return to the disaster site will experi- people in rebuilding their lives is part of absence of services. ence their trauma differently than those the job of the mental health practitioner who returned home right away. This next who goes to a disaster area. Another part Initially, the physical environment in- wave of returnees, like the first returnees, of the work is monitoring the psychological cluded debris piles in the streets, dead ani- has been traumatized by the initial event wellbeing of co-workers. At the early stages mals, bad smells from overflowed sewers but also, by the displacement they experi- after a trauma, the role of counselor within and chemicals released by the storm from enced in the period between the event and a clinic also includes facilitating daily staff under kitchen sinks and every garage that their return. Their needs may be different debriefings, consulting with other -volun flooded, not to mention the refrigerators from the early returnees. They may not re- teers on their emotional states and keep- full of rotten food, maggots, cockroaches. quire telling their stories because so much ing a pulse of the wellbeing of the staff as Roofs were blown off by wind in some ar- time has passed and their new experiences a whole. eas, entire city blocks of houses flattened in are so much more a part of their reality than others. One warehouse contained one mil- the storm experience. Rather, they may Any disaster area has a political-economic lion pounds of putrefied meat. People wear- need to problem-solve about how to create infrastructure. Disasters have become big ing HAZMAT suits and respirators cleaned stability in their lives, either by returning to money-making opportunities for corpora- that site. Black mold grows in damp ruined old neighborhoods or finding other places tions favored by the federal government. To structures, releasing toxic spores into the to live and work. They may be in shock assess benefits of services from large govern- air. One didn’t have to experience these en- from seeing devastation they’d only heard ment contractors, one must consider how vironmental hazards directly to be affected about prior to their return. Talking with services are and are not made available to by them because toxins, mold spores and a listener may enable them to identify re- residents at disaster sites. Tragically for the bacteria travel freely. And one didn’t have sources within themselves that allow them people living in New Orleans, FEMA and to experience them directly to be affected to begin to make a recovery plan. On the private contractors enjoyed a fairly high psychologically as community devastation other hand, if they haven’t had the benefit standard of living—leather living room sets, affects in one way or another everyone in of being heard when they experienced the freshly prepared steak and salmon dinners, the area and even those who know people initial disaster, they may still be at loose marble-topped tables and wide screen TVs in the affected area. ends about what happened. Talking with a in huge tents while city residents enjoyed good listener helps. prepackaged cold cut sandwiches, water The next wave of people returning to New and delayed temporary housing. Orleans included chronically mentally ill people who, prior to the storms, lived The already-existing political economic marginalized lives, with time spent in and power structures must be considered when out of the local mental health facilities. In assessing the impact of disaster on the lo- New Orleans access to care traditionally

28 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster has been limited for those without health tal health practitioners who understand This happened. Throughout the holidays, insurance, and even then, not all facilities the phases of trauma and have training in there continued to be a high volume of peo- accept Medicaid and Medicare. Since the cultural sensitivity as well as the socio-eco- ple in need, including staff. number of hospital beds for psychiatric ill- nomic politics of poverty. We need emo- ness was in the 40s three months after the tional support for these workers and must storms and halfway houses, which provided provide relief responders so that the first y January I was burned a residence for those who could not survive group can get some time away. We need on their own, had not reopened, options for caseworkers who can conduct ongoing re- out, the result of hearing too the severely mentally disabled were limited. search into social and relief services needed many stories, not having enough At this time, the need for skilled casework- for residents returning home and who can ers and residential facilities was great. serve as advocates for returnees requiring �debriefing or supervision, and government supports. We need group fa- Five months since the storms, New Or- cilitators, family therapists and rape crisis existing in an environment of leans is a traumatized city. Even some peo- counselors. In addition we will want local ple whose material lives were not changed mental health services already in existence, crisis, running on adrenaline. significantly seem depressed and anxious. private and public, prepared to respond. In Reflecting on what the experience has Suicide rates are high. Outpatient mental sum, communities would be well served if meant to me, I want to acknowledge the health facilities are gradually returning to planning for the mental health care needs openheartedness on the part of others, their pre-storm level of functioning. There were part of regional disaster relief plans. volunteers and returning residents. People is still, however, a huge need for trauma It would be wiser still if disaster relief pro- were blown wide open, I included, and in counseling for the general population gramming included participation of all the initial stages of people returning to New of returnees to New Orleans and its sur- public and private mental health systems, Orleans, I experienced meaningful, loving rounds. There is still a need for casework- including individual practitioners, which interactions, and felt myself an integral part ers to assist returnees with social services exist in the community. and the relief system. of the human family, where there are no This storm period has put us on notice to strangers. Natives of the city report to me that one the fact that catastrophic events can rock The Katrina and Rita hurricanes are wake positive aspect of the post-storm period the foundations of places and lives. The up calls for mental health workers, counsel- is that the crime rate is down because the New Orleans disaster reminds us that di- ors, social workers and others with needed population is dramatically lower than be- sasters can occur anywhere at any time. skills, like writing and organizational and fore. The drug dealers aren’t back in full Luckily the best of our humanity surfaces communication skills, to identify and force because there isn’t enough business when we’re responding to others in need— work with local colleagues who will plan for them, so there are no longer the four we all benefit. Traumatic events, an inevi- how to meet community needs should or five shootings a night that there were table part of life itself, are opportunities for disaster strike. Make a phone tree. Scout pre-storms. those not traumatized to give generously out possible locations to gather in times of and to connect emotionally and with car- It seems likely that within the next few emergency and set up temporary services. ing. Such events remind us that our diffi- decades there will be future disasters of Ka- Make contact with first responders in your cult time may come next and that the hu- trina-Rita magnitude in American cities. area and from neighboring towns, cities, man condition always is interconnected, These events may be the result of natural and regions. Prepare even while knowing requiring that we work together. forces, perhaps brought on by global cli- that you likely won’t feel prepared when mate change, industrial accidents, neglect I spent my first two weeks in October listen- action is required. Regardless, you’ll be more prepared than you are now. or war. We need to prepare ourselves to ing and doing direct service at Common respond humanely and with careful con- Ground Health Clinic. Then I left to attend sideration to the wellbeing of the people We who respond to the needs of others to other matters, returning in mid-Novem- who survive these disasters. Because local in time of crisis believe we should be ber to resume counseling, answering crisis governments may be unable to meet needs responsible. calls, doing neighborhood check-ins, and of their populations, there may be require- working with the mental health staff. In late ment that communities identify individuals Our motivation to help fosters a who are willing to serve in time of crisis and November I realized that we needed to re- train these people ahead of time. Common cruit more counselors for the holidays. I an- sense of human connectedness. Ground Relief, one grass roots relief organi- nounced the need for workers through vari- zation in New Orleans, distributed over $25 ous networks, and counselors from various That connectedness, in turn, million in donated food, clothes, cleaning parts of the United States responded, staying supplies, water and other basics of life in the for a week, some for two or three. In January is the driving force for first four months after the hurricanes. I established a connection with a local men- tal health agency that was up and running, healing our communities. Clearly, it is up to “We the people” to share re- and this organization provided the clinic two sponsibility for helping populations in distress Bachelor-level social workers on a daily ba- with official governmental agencies. There sis. I also requested that two local graduate The need to serve is a profound calling. is a need for first responders in all aspects schools and my alma mater send counseling of medical care, including trained men- interns to volunteer at Common Ground.

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 29 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster Postscript – 10 months after me in the telling are not soft and free-flow- I did return to NOLA for three days in Au- ing and not easy for people to hear—they gust 2006 to attend a conference and to leaving New Orleans are harsh, broken and discordant. The ex- explore the possibility of returning for the When I left New Orleans I felt burnedout, ception is when I am with people who also winter. I quickly realized that at that point, tired, angry, overwhelmed, sad and relieved have spent time in New Orleans after the I couldn’t go back to live in New Orleans. I to leave. I can trace my progress recovering hurricanes. There is a shared experience, had after all begun the process of lessening from the work in New Orleans by assessing even if we didn’t meet up until after New the trauma within myself and to return to how agitated and anxious I feel and by ob- Orleans, that allows for an opening up of the city would have interrupted that pro- serving how much I engage in self-care or communication coming from a place inside cess, piling new trauma on top of what I was self-harm, and by how frequently I bring of me that feels and resonates with the oth- already experiencing. That seemed like a New Orleans into conversations. er person’s deep feeling—that is satisfying. bad idea to me. As time goes by I feel less and less inclined My personal discomfort with my preoc- to bring New Orleans into my conversa- I have not fully integrated the experience cupations and lack of ease with who I am tions. It doesn’t feel as necessary as it did of volunteering in New Orleans. I am and where I am going has changed over the six months ago. learning from looking at what that experi- last ten months. Initially, I wasn’t sleeping ence was about for me. I find that my po- much. I’d wake up and smoke cigarettes I hadn’t been a smoker for many years when litical views, my spiritual practices and my a few times a night. If I were staying in a I went to New Orleans in October 2005, clinically trained self are overlapping more town, I preferred to smoke in the middle but I started to smoke again a week after and more. I don’t see myself embracing an of the road late at night. Not main roads, arriving there and haven’t stopped yet. For “office job” anytime in the near future. I but residential streets. I found these neigh- me, smoking provides a sense of comfort. don’t see myself returning to traditional borhood streets comforting. I would look Smoking feels in part as though it is about clinical practice. around at the lack of debris, notice the ab- joining with the people there since so many sence of the odor of decay in the air and whom I met in New Orleans smoke. It’s also listen to the quiet. Later I moved to a rural a sort of flag or badge that says “I am not community and would sit out on my deck totally OK yet. I am still disturbed.” I can e are facing and smoke. tell I am gradually getting healthier because I can’t tolerate coffee the way I used to. It Now I smoke less. My sleep is improving. I is now too stimulating, whereas when I was enormous challenges am not dreaming about New Orleans. I have in New Orleans it was barely stimulating been randomly visualizing the big bridge, enough to keep me going. as a world, the Greater New Orleans (GNO), which � spans the Mississippi from East Bank to West After leaving New Orleans, I continue to and compartmentalizing Bank. The bridge was the backdrop to the be involved with the clinic by managing clinic, an imposing physical presence that the clinic’s website, http://cghc.org. I am profession, political activism was built by demolishing old neighborhoods aware that as much as this task is about pro- and creating a huge highway zone. I find I am viding service to the clinic, managing the and personal spiritual visualizing the bridge less than when I first website is a service to me because I am able left New Orleans in January 2006. to remain steadfast in my calling to help commitments, as I once did, the people of New Orleans. This becomes At first I felt a need to share with people my possible without having to be in the city. feelings and thoughts related to my New Or- The clinic has become a permanent health no longer fits for me. leans stay. That has been frustrating because care facility, with non-profit status and lo- it is difficult to convey these impressions in cal staffing. All this is good. words, and the emotions that come out of

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30 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster Helping Children Post Katrina: Observations from the Field

Kathleen Kostelny and Mike Wessells

urricane Katrina, the largest natu- most basic internationally accepted guide- One director of a shelter reported that the ral disaster in U.S. history, left lines such as the Inter-Agency Guidelines “kids run wild” there and the director of a Hlarge numbers of people homeless, on Separated and Unaccompanied Chil- feeding center said that parents would use displaced masses of people to areas through- dren, which are standard in all emergencies. them as “babysitters” while they attended to out the U.S., and created a need for long- As a result, children were in danger of risks other matters. Numerous child protection term resettlement and rehabilitation on a to their physical, emotional, and social well- issues loomed large. large scale. being. Following are our reflections from our experiences in Mississippi and Oklahoma. During the course of one two-hour visit, a two-year-old boy had climbed to the top of For children, who are nearly Jackson, Mississippi: the bleachers in the gymnasium and was always invisible in emergencies After the devastation of Katrina, tens of on the edge of falling two stories (a “keep thousands of people fled north, finding off” sign obviously had little effect for the yet who have special temporary shelter in Jackson, Mississippi young non-reader). A three-year-old girl and nearby towns and cities. Children and was found playing in the toilet of the men’s vulnerabilities, the aftermath of their caretakers were living in temporary rest-room. A five-year-old girl asked me if I shelters, including churches, high schools, could take her in my car to go look for her the hurricane created risks as and community centers. While basic needs mommy. And while there were guards post- were met—people had a roof over their ed at the front of the building, the back and great as those posed by head and food was plentiful—the psycho- side doors were open so that young children social needs of children and their caretak- could wander out and predators were able to the hurricane itself. ers were not adequately addressed. Mothers come in. reported feeling stressed by having to care for Providing immediate child protection and For school-age children, many started at- their children “non-stop.” psychosocial support was crucial for insuring tending school by the second week follow- the recovery, rehabilitation, and develop- In many two-parent families, some fathers ing Katrina, though they reported feeling ment of children and their families who suf- like they “didn’t fit in” and “feeling bad” fered greatly in this unprecedented disaster. were not at the shelter because they had gone back home to try and settle insurance because they didn’t have school uniforms However, poor coordination, competition, like the rest of the children. and non-compliance with international claims. These mothers felt strained by the situation, and missed the support that their standards hindered services that would en- Others felt stigmatized and the objects of husband normally would have provided. sure children’s protection and psychosocial unwanted attention. One fifth-grade boy In some cases children had been separated well being. reported that the teacher showed a film on from their mothers who had been evacuated tolerance, told the other children that “they to another state, and were being cared for by In the wake of Katrina, as part of Chris- had to be nice to me,” and then opened up grandmothers or other relatives, some who tian Children’s Fund’s (CCF) global child a discussion in which the local children were sick or elderly and felt overwhelmed protection team, we conducted child pro- asked lots of questions of him about “see- by the circumstances. tection and psychosocial assessments in ing dead bodies” and “being homeless.” Tahlequah, Oklahoma and Jackson, Mis- Prior to Katrina, many young children, ages Overwhelmed, he decided “not to talk to sissippi—areas where children and their anyone” or “go outside to recess” where he caretakers displaced by Katrina were now 2-5, had been in daycare and pre-school. However, they had now lost this predict- would have to deal with questions by the living. As part of these assessments, we other children. talked with children, youth, parents, local able routine, structured activities, and op- portunities for socialization with children disaster management leaders, people who When school-age children were not in their age. At the temporary shelters we worked directly with the evacuees, child school, they lacked structured activities visited, there were no organized, ongoing, protective services, camp leaders, educa- and consistent adult supervision. Some structured activities for young children. tors, social workers, and ministers. Hav- children lay on their cots and watched TV Sporadic activities were sometimes provid- ing worked extensively in emergencies in- in isolation. Some hung out at the always ed by well-intended individuals or groups ternationally, we unfortunately witnessed open snack counter and consumed large (for example, a puppet show or reading of numerous instances where international quantities of sugar- and fat-filled items. books), though there was no continuity to standards and procedures for protecting Some children played in small groups, activities, and no checks or standards to as- children and insuring their well-being though the play was unsupervised and certain the qualifications of these individu- were not implemented. We were shocked sometimes rough and aggressive. to find virtually no awareness of even the als and groups.

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 31 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster

The primary concerns for this age group cried throughout, hugged each other at the It’s important to discuss these issues in or- of evacuee children focused on the loss of end, and said they had found being with der to learn from them and to avoid pre- their relationships with significant people in each other and sharing extremely helpful. ventable harm in the future. Of particular their lives. They missed their friends: “we’d concern were serious challenges to three do everything together, all of us were best School-age children need opportunities to humanitarian priorities: (1) the protection friends”; the routines: “we had Girl Scouts play, make new friends, and socialize. They of human dignity, which is nearly always Wednesday”; and the celebrations: “I was also need structure, routine, and stabil- one of the first casualties, (2) the protec- going to have a sleep-over for my birthday. ity through after-school programs, child- tion of children by preventing separations Now I guess I can’t.” They also missed sup- centered spaces, and sports and recreation of children and families and managing the port from their extended family: activities. Where there is existing pro- situation when separations do occur, and gramming, such as after school programs, (3) the coordination of humanitarian ef- “My cousins… they’re in Dallas. My grand- assimilating evacuee children into existing forts in an effective manner. ma’s in Dallas. We’re here…but we don’t groups should be explored. Where there have anybody here.” are no structured activities for children, The assault on human dignity began with child-centered spaces should be provided the treatment of survivors as cattle who Most youth at shelters spent much of their at shelters, churches, or other places where were loaded onto buses outside the Super- time playing video games or watching TV evacuee children may be found. dome and shipped off without having been alone. Many said they were “bored…had told where they were being taken. The in- nothing to do.” They found the lack of dignity was compounded by the long bus privacy difficult to deal with: “I share a inally, youth need to be ride, during which they were not allowed bedroom with a hundred people!” Some to leave the buses on arrival in local towns expressed anger at their situation: “I had engaged in activities that give due to widespread fear among local people a house, a life....I was a senior. Look where that they were criminals who had commu- I am.” One of the main issues for evacuee them meaningful roles and nicable diseases. Those on the bus endured youth was uncertainty about the future: � a grueling 30-hour ride, and children who “I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to responsibilities and restore had been on one bus talked about how scary my school.” “Not sure where I’ll be a year it had been to ride with a person who had from now.” hope for the future. died en route. For example, youth can help with activi- In working in emergencies throughout the On arrival in Tahlequah, approximately one ties with younger children and with a va- world, there are child protection agencies thousand evacuees were housed in military riety of activities with the local commu- that work to strengthen social environ- barracks at Camp Gruber, a federal military nity or shelter. ments to support psychosocial well-being. base. Although most evacuees were very According to the best practice agreed upon grateful for having a roof over their heads by emergency practitioners worldwide and Tahlequah, Oklahoma: and access to meals, they felt confined by Following Katrina and the horrors of living as recently codified in the establishment of the military regulations that governed the in the Superdome, more than 2,000 people an Education Cluster, young children need base. Youth in particular said they felt like were evacuated by bus from New Orleans to structured activities, such as day care, pre- they were in jail, and adults commented Oklahoma. Many of the evacuees said they school, and other safe, predictable places that they had not been consulted in orga- were relieved to be in Oklahoma, and it was such as a child-centered space. Where day nizing the sleeping arrangements. care and early child development activities inspiring to see the kindnesses extended by exist, options should be explored to inte- local churches and community groups, who Not uncommonly, a large sleeping area at grate children into them. Unfortunately, provided shelter, food, and support for the Camp Gruber contained beds for ten or more these child protection agencies were not evacuees. However, to observers who have families with little or no privacy. Although it included in the U.S. emergency plan. worked in many disaster- and conflict-torn is largely preventable, lack of privacy is one of situations globally, it was clear that this was the main sources of psychosocial distress for Additionally, caretakers need to be support- no ordinary emergency response. In par- many displaced people. A simple means of re- ed, so that they can support their children. ticular, numerous challenges threatened ducing this distress and building human digni- This can be done through informal groups the well-being of children and families, and ty is to empower the emergency affected peo- for mothers/caretakers where they would harm was too often caused by the humani- ple to organize themselves and make decisions have opportunities to share their current tarian aid effort itself. Threats and issues of about how, for example, to improve sleeping concerns and support each other. Mothers Do No Harm arise in all emergencies but arrangements and privacy. are young children’s primary means of social were more pronounced in Tahlequah than support, care, and protection. Many par- in any emergency we have worked in during This empowerment orientation is the cor- ents, however, were feeling overwhelmed the past fifteen years. This seemed a sad iro- nerstone of the recently completed Inter- from their losses and the disruption of the ny in light of the enormity of the resources Agency Standing Committee Guidelines normal rhythm of life that provided a sense available in the U.S., which vastly outstrip on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support of meaning, identity and self-esteem. In those available to emergency affected peo- in Emergency Settings (see http://www.hu- one of the focus groups, all the mothers said ple in countries such as Sudan, Iraq, Libe- manitarianinfo.org/iasc/content/products). they had not shared their feelings around ria, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. the hurricane with anyone. When they The problem of separations is one that aris- were given the opportunity to share, they es in many emergencies, as family members

32 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Special Supplement: Psychological Services After a Disaster in flight often become physically separated Coordination of humanitarian actors is in- supervised activities or safe spaces for chil- from each other and suffer the distress of variably one of the greatest challenges in dren were available on a regular basis. By not knowing where their loved ones are. emergency response, and coordination prob- the second week, children attended local Separation from parents or legal guardians lems were more visible in Tahlequah than in schools, but problems of intolerance sur- is one of the greatest protection threats to any emergency in recent memory. faced when some parents had called a local children, who are at risk of sexual violence, school superintendent to say they did not exploitation, and a host of other problems. The night the evacuees arrived by bus, they want their children going to school with In emergencies outside U. S. borders, UNI- lacked adequate food supplies since the evac- the evacuees, whom they regarded as dis- CEF and child protection Non Govern- uees had been outnumbered by volunteers, eased and likely to make their children ill. ment Organization (NGO) partners such who had consumed most of the food. While the evacuee children were allowed as International Rescue Committee (IRC), to attend school, the school officials repeat- Establishing an effective coordination Save the Children, and CCF help to pre- edly rebuffed the attempts by several groups group or mechanism is the key step toward vent separations and to reunite separated to meet with teachers to take a preventive effective coordination. Although in emer- children with their families in accordance stance and address intolerance. gencies outside the U.S., this typically hap- with the widely adopted principles inherent pens under auspices of the U.N. or the na- in the Inter-Agency Guiding Principles on The problems of discrimination and intol- tional government, the coordination of the Separated and Unaccompanied Children. erance, which in many respects were at the Hurricane Katrina response was hampered heart of the wider suffering unearthed by by contested lines of authority, territoriality Hurricane Katrina, were alternately denied or and incompetence regarding skills of coor- seen as someone else’s problem. This unfortu- he separation of children dination. At Fort Gruber and the surround- nate orientation undermined coordination, ing area, for example, no coordination which requires collective ownership and from their caretakers arose group existed. Agencies, such as the Federal a willingness to address the most difficult Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) problems. mainly not from the hurricane and the American Red Cross, engaged in � turf struggles over things as insignificant as Despite these challenges, the experience in itself but from the relief effort. control over mayonnaise jars thus impeding Tahlequah produced valuable lessons and a coordinated response. constructive change that may make for more Outside the Superdome, during the pro- effective emergency response in the future. cess of loading buses, a number of children The coordination problems were highly Recognizing there was a major unfilled gap were separated from parents who wanted visible in regard to child protection issues. in regard to child protection capacity and to ensure that their children got out even As outlined above, there was considerable little capacity for emergency response, the if they could not. Also, well-intentioned need for an effective response to the needs local emergency response team has now humanitarians separated children by plac- of separated children. Because an essential included child-focused agencies. Also, the ing them alone or with siblings but with- first step is to assess the magnitude of the team decided to integrate child protection out their parents on buses destined for problem, UNICEF, IRC and CCF offered into emergency preparation and response camps and temporary settlement areas far to authorities in Washington, DC help for various agency partners. This integrated from their homes. in assessing the situation and providing approach—if extended fully into areas such technical advice on how to support sepa- as health, education, shelter, and water and At Camp Gruber, staff reported no knowl- rated children. The unfortunate result, sanitation—fits with the current approach edge of the Inter-Agency Guidelines on however, was an eerie silence. This may to emergency response in the international Separated Children and had not taken the have reflected institutional problems and humanitarian system and could help large most basic precautions to protect separated power struggles within the U. S. disaster numbers of children in future disasters. children. The essential first step—identi- response system. In this system, the main fication, registration and tracking of- indi responsibility for separated children falls In the post-Katrina response and in emer- vidual children—was not done effectively, to the American Red Cross, which often gencies worldwide, the effective implemen- with the unfortunate result that weeks found itself locked in struggles with FEMA tation of an integrated approach requires following the arrival of the evacuees, the and state and municipal authorities over the cooperation of psychologists, who can Camp commander was unable to say with control of the emergency response. Also, do their share by coordinating their work certainty how many separated children there may have been issues of territoriality, with that of other groups and agencies, un- there had been or where they were cur- arrogance, or both, as some leaders may derstand and work within the frameworks rently. This was not only a military issue. have been reluctant to have international established by international, inter-agency When we approached the Oklahoma state actors become too involved. Whatever the guidelines, and work in a self-critical man- authorities, such as the Department of cause, the very low spirit of inter-agency ner that respects the Do No Harm impera- Health, they showed genuine care about collaboration undermined the coordina- tive. A useful first step is to adhere to the separated children but had never heard of tion that was badly needed. Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) the Guidelines and even confused the issue Guidelines on Mental Health and Psycho- by conflating separated children with ‘dis- The coordination problems affected not social Support in Emergency Settings. More placed children.’ Internationally it is well only separated children but others as well. information about the IASC is found on its established that these are two separate cat- At Camp Gruber, some children and youth website: www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc. egories having very different needs. spent large amounts of time unsupervised, as parents went out on their own, and no

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 33

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...human connectedness... � is the driving force � �for healing our communities. � – Walter I. Zeichner�

34 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Why Peace Psychologists Should be Concerned About Prison Issues

Ethel Tobach & Joanie Connors

“The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain, is floating in mid-air, until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.” –Jane Addams, 1892

any peace psychologists are against txt.htm). This is more than any other • In May, 2000, the UN rebuked the the death penalty and advocate country in the world, including China U.S. for the “brutality” of its pris- Mreform of the U.S. criminal justice and Russia. ons, citing the use of electroshock system on humanitarian grounds, but few are stun belts, torture and increased actively working to change these policies. • The fastest growing segment in U.S. use of ‘supermax’ high security cells Changing the U.S. obsession with execution prisons is undocumented aliens, com- (UNHCR, http://www.unhchr. and imprisonment is an essential and neces- prising 1.6 million, most of whom have ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/ sary step toward achieving world peace. not committed crimes (Corpwatch, 1DB59AA2EAB21919802568D http://www.corpwatch.org/article. C002E2C54?opendocument) U.S. governmental policy toward prisoners is php?id=14333) a product of a deep penchant for vengeance • Over 100,000 children are locked and retribution. The war in Iraq has brought • The number of mentally ill people in in juvenile facilities, with a growing attention to U.S. treatment of prisoners in prison has quadrupled over the last number being sent to adult prisons a horrifying way and made it important to six years, with few getting treatment (Human Rights Watch, http://www. examine the issues of execution and impris- and many reporting abuse (Human hrw.org/prisons/united_states.html) onment. Stories of prisoner abuse at both Rights Watch, http://hrw.org/english/ Abu Graib and Guantanamo make it clear docs/2006/09/06/usdom14137.htm). An international “Rage to Punish” that the U.S. criminal justice policy, espe- The bombing attacks on the U.S. have • Black men are six times more likely to cially the treatment of prisoners, needs to be provided an excuse to extend an obsession be incarcerated than white men in the overhauled. Jailing and killing those who are with punishment to the international arena U.S., and four times more likely than deemed enemies or criminals is part of the onto nations identified as Arab or Muslim. Black men in South Africa (Haney, U.S. identity viewed by many as a nation U.S. soldiers have been trained to bomb http://home1.gte.net/cjhawk/Haney_ bent on achieving dominance by crushing and personally execute those who are now Race_Rage_Punish.htm). those who stand in the way of that aim. defined as our enemies, including civilians • Seventy-seven percent of U.S. prison- (for an example, see “60 Minutes,” 3/18/07, Is there a “Rage to Punish” in the U.S.? ers are there for nonviolent crimes, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/ Statistics of the execution and imprison- primarily drug offenses (Third World 15/60minutes/main2574973.shtml). The ment of prisoners make it clear that ven- Traveler http://www.thirdworldtravel- brutal execution of Saddam Hussein (con- geance is implemented in terms of eth- er.com/Prison_System/Bad_Company. veniently preventing Saddam from telling nicity, race, gender and class. The U.S. html) the story of how he had cooperated with “justice” system has been characterized as the U.S. in the past) on a Muslim holy motivated by a “rage to punish” (Haney, • Of the 3,400 prisoners currently on day performed by the Iraqi government but Race and the Rage to Punish, http://home1. death row, 58 percent are nonwhite. controlled by the U.S., was an ugly warning gte.net/cjhawk/Haney_Race_Rage_Pun- to any leader who might stand in the way of ish.htm). • Since 1976, 1066 people have been U.S. dominance of oil supplies. executed in this country, 43 percent of How does the U.S. criminal “justice” whom were nonwhite (Death Penalty In a further step toward internationaliz- system work? Information Center www.deathpenal- ing a “rage to punish,” the U.S. has used a • There are 5.3 million individuals in U.S. tyinfo.org different name for prisoners of war— “en- prisons and in foreign prisons (as of 2001, emy combatants” since the 9-11 attacks, Bureau of Justice Statistics) http://www. • The death penalty is based on class — Thus, the U.S. proclaims that it does not ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm) 90 percent of those on death row could have to abide by the Geneva Conven- not afford to hire an attorney (The tion in its treatment of POWs. Over 600 • As of December 2006 (Human Rights Case Against the Death Penalty, people (mostly foreign nationals) have Watch), 2,300,000 United States citi- http://users.rcn.com/mwood/death- been imprisoned as “enemy combatants” in zens were in prison http://hrw.org/eng- pen.html). lish/docs/2006/12/01/usdom14728_ Continued on page 36

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 35 Continued from page 35

Guantanamo Bay and other prisons, deny- U.S. influence on international peace. International Criminal Court ing them rights of representation and due They cannot become part of the interna- http://www.icc-cpi.int/home.html&l=en process. They and all others imprisoned as tional “disappeared.” “enemy combatants” are subject to horrible Human Rights Watch—International Justice conditions (lack of water, lack of medical Resources for reform of criminal justice Campaign: http://www.hrw.org/doc/?t=justice care, cold, heat, tent camps, unsanitary Just Alternatives: Promising Practices in Justice conditions), interrogations and unspeak- & Corrections: http://www.justalternatives.org/ Amnesty International—Stop Torture able torture for which psychologists have http://web.amnesty.org/pages/stoptorture-index-eng been accused. The Criminal Justice Reform Unit (a part of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) Human Rights First The U.S. alliance holds over 14,000 Iraqis http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/criminaljustice.html http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/discrimination/in- imprisoned in Iraq, 600 in Afghanistan, and dex.asp unknown numbers in detention facilities in Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of east Europe, Indonesia, and Egypt (Human Prisoners Rights First http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/ http://www.uncjin.org/Standards/Rules/r01/r01.html media/hrd/2007/statement/316/index.htm). Peace Restoration, continued from page 14 The Prison Fellowship: http://www.justicefellow- How to make a difference: ship.org/ Belsky, J. (1980). Child maltreatment: An eco- logical integration. American Psychologist, 35, Suggestions for peace psychologists CURE—Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of 320-335. • Press for actions within APA and its di- Errants: http://users.bestweb.net/~cureny/ Belsky, J. (1993). Etiology of child maltreatment: visions to support change in U.S. crimi- A developmental-ecological approach. Psycho- nal justice policy. Human Rights Watch, USA Prison Campaign logical Bulletin, 114, 413-434. http://www.hrw.org/doc/?t=usa_prisons Bronfenbenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human • Press for programs for treatment of pris- development: Experiments by nature and design. http://www.hrw.org/prisons/united_states.html oners who are mentally ill. Cambridge. MA: Harvard University Press. ACLU Campaign to Restore Due Process Rights Christie, D. (1997). Reducing direct and struc- • Create a section devoted to criminal jus- tural violence: The human needs theory. Peace tice, prisons and the death penalty, with http://www.aclu.org/safefree/detention/commis- and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 3, resource files and links, on the web sites sions.html 315–332. of Division 48, the Peace Division, and Dutton, D. G. (1985). An ecologically nested Psychologists For Social Responsibility. Restorative justice theory of male violence toward intimates. The Restorative Justice Resource Center International Journal of Women’s Studies, 8, 404-413. • Advocate reform of the criminal justice http://www.restorativejustice.info/index.htm system and improvements in prison con- Galtung, J. (1985). Twenty-five years of peace ditions through letters and calls to the research: Ten challenges and some responses. Restorative Justice Online Journal of Peace Research, 22, 141-158 media and government officials. http://www.restorativejustice.org/ Hakvoort, I.,& Oppenheimer, L. (1993). Children • Learn about Restorative Justice, which Real Justice: http://www.realjustice.org/ and adolescents’ conceptions of peace, war and strategies to attain peace: A Dutch case study. shows great promise in changing the life Restorative Justice Handbook Journal of Peace Research, 30, 65–77. directions of convicted felons (see re- http://www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/06- Myers-Bowman, K. S., Walker, K., & Myers- sources below). Walls, J.A. (2005). Differences between war and 56290_Ebook.pdf peace are big: Children from Yugoslavia and the • Join and support campaigns to restore United States describe peace and war, peace habeas corpus rights and apply the Ge- Opposition to death penalty resources and conflict.Journal of Peace Psychology, 11, neva Convention to all people in U.S. Campaign to End the Death Penalty 177–198. custody. http://nodeathpenalty.org/content/index.php Schiamberg, L.B. & Gans, D., (2000), Elder abuse by adult children: An applied ecological framework for understanding contextual risk • Advocate U.S. membership in the Inter- National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty national Criminal Court. factors and the intergenerational character of http://www.ncadp.org/ quality of life. International Journal of Aging and • Join one or more of the campaigns against Development, 50, 329-359. Amnesty International—Death Penalty Campaign the death penalty (see resources below). Waltz, K. (1959). Man, the state, and war. New http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-index-eng York: Columbia University Press. • Stay informed and support movements to Michael Corgan, Kathleen Malley- World Coalition Against the Death Penalty reform U.S. criminal “justice” issues. Morrison & Helena Castanheira can be http://www.worldcoalition.org/bcoalintro.html contacted at the Psychology Department, Conclusion Boston University, Boston, MA. Peace psychologists and scholars need to International justice resources keep the imprisoned and those on death USA for the International Criminal Court row in their thoughts. They are our chil- http://www.usaforicc.org/ dren and part of the purported mission of

36 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 A VISIT TO JAPAN—PEACE PSYCHOLOGY

John Paul Szura

was a friend of the Catholic priest Purple Heart Vietnam veteran. Our who was military chaplain for the hope was to start a peace psycholo- I atom bomb crews that attacked gy conversation about combat sup- Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. port from military roles that could He was Rev. George Zabelka, a per- be advertised or recruited for on the son sincerely dedicated to religious basis of a humanitarian non-com- ministry in the military. But in the bat commitment—such as medic, aftermath of that nuclear attack, nurse and psychotherapist, as well and after painful questioning and as chaplain. soul searching, he underwent a con- version, repenting of his complicity In March 2007 I returned to Japan in those war crimes. His spiritual and donated George’s chaplains journey during the 1950s, 60s and 1. To provide the facilities for public reli- manual to the atom bomb mu- 70s took him from the civil rights and labor gious worship to the military personnel. seum at Hiroshima, giving a photocopy to movements through protests against the the atom bomb museum at Nagasaki. I ex- Vietnam War and into the nuclear disarma- 2. To give spiritual ministration, moral plained to the administrators of both muse- ment campaigns of the 80s and 90s. Until counsel, and religious guidance to those ums some of its religious and psychological his death, George was a dedicated peace under military jurisdiction. implications. I believe that George would have wanted his chaplains manual to reside advocate, a credible and respected voice 3. To be the exponent in the Military against atomic weapons, and a well known, at the Hiroshima atom bomb museum to be Establishment of the religious motive available to others. celebrated figure in the Catholic peace as an incentive to right thinking and movement. That is where I met him. right acting. Presently I am in dialogue with members of the in Japan and the Unit- When I visited the atom bomb museums at 4. To promote character building in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki five years ago, I was ed States about religious and peace psychol- United States Army by precept and ex- ogy issues raised by non-combatant military disappointed to find nothing of George Za- ample and thus add greater efficiency to belka among their several hundred exhibits. roles, such as chaplain, medic and psycho- those engaged in the military defense of logical counselor. For example, the Center So, with the help of friends, I approached the country the administration of both atom bomb mu- for Christian Nonviolence is enlarging the concept of conscientious objection from re- seums to see if I could donate some items to Grasping how his religious motives were fusal to be conscripted for military service to memorialize him. The administrators were manipulated by the War Department, public refusal to volunteer for either combat interested in his story and welcomed dona- George deeply regretted that he and his or non-combat military roles. The Center tions. Back in the United States, I gathered church were used for some of the most offers psychologists and potential chaplains pictures, audio tapes, videos and a brief bi- brutal violence in the history of warfare. the opportunity to make public their refusal ography to give to the museums on my re- He had to make amends and become a to volunteer for the military—and it offers turn to Japan. Presently, these are preserved peacemaker. And I had in my possession to psychologists the opportunity to make in the museum archives, to be available his chaplains manual—to my mind a his- public their refusal to work for the CIA as to historians, scholars and the curious and torically significant booklet that had seri- well. (See www.centerforchristiannonvio- brought out for occasional display. ous implications for peace psychology as lence.org; click Resources; go to “Refusal to well as for religion. I felt that it really be- Volunteer for Military Service on the Basis Subsequently, I received some items from longed at Hiroshima. I felt George would of Conscience”; go to “learn more”). Zabelka’s estate, including his military have wanted it there. chaplains manual. Upon reading it, I saw I hope this dialogue thrives. I welcome con- something that I believe was a factor in his But first, at the 2005 APA convention in versation. conversion, when he understood in later Washington, DC, I brought it as an aid life how his religious work was used by the for a Division 48/PsySR Hospitality Suite John Paul Szura can be contacted at john- military. His manual gave four purposes of program entitled “Unintended Combat [email protected] military chaplaincy decreed by those in Support Consequences of Non-combatant command. The first two purposes focused Military Roles.” The program was led by upon religious ministry. But the last two John Carmody (Division 48), also of the were about combat support. Center for Christian Nonviolence and a

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 37 save the date Summit on Violence & Abuse in Relationships: Connecting Agendas and Forging New Directions February 28-29, 2008 • Bethesda, Maryland

Alan Kazdin, PhD, President-Elect of APA, has selected this summit as part of his presidential initiative. Topics include Intimate Partner Violence, Child Maltreatment, Children Exposed to Violence and Abuse, Elder Abuse, Gender-Based Issues, Cultural Issues, Substance Abuse, and related themes. The focus will be on What We Know, What We Need to Know, and Where Do We Need to Go with respect to Research, Intervention, and Prevention. The program will consist of a number of plenary speakers and break-out groups to discuss relevant topics. Conference Schedule February 28: Opening Plenary, Poster Session, Networking Reception February 29: Summit Programming Preliminary Plenary Presenters Arun Gandhi; Mary Koss, PhD; Jacquelyn Campbell, PhD, RN; and David Finkelhor, PhD Coordinators Jackie White, PhD, President-Elect, Div. 35, Bob Geffner, PhD, President-Elect, Div. 56 Host Hotel Hyatt Regency Bethesda (888) 591-1234: Reservations link at www.reisman-white.com (special conference rate code- G-TPSY) $189 single/double In addition to the two lead divisions sponsoring the conference, Division 35 – Society for the Psychology of Women and Division 56 – Trauma Psychology, Centers for Disease Control, the University of Kentucky’s Center for Research on Violence Against Women, and the following divi- sions are serving as collaborators: • 9, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues • 17, Society of Counseling Psychology • 22, Rehabilitation Psychology • 27, Society for Community Research, and Action: Division of Community Psychology • 28, Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse • 37, Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice • 39, Psychoanalysis • 43, Family Psychology • 45, Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues • 48, Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, andV iolence: Peace Psychology Division • 50, Addictions • 51, Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity

The Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma at Alliant International University is a co-sponsor of this Summit and is responsible for the Continuing Education program. Up to nine hours of CE credit are available for psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, nurses, attorneys, substance abuse and other counselors.

For additional information and to register for this summit, go to www. reisman-white.com or call (512) 845-9059.

38 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Having a Conscience & Going to Gitmo Jean Maria Arrigo

Peace psychologists have rallied for the welfare of detainees in the current “War on Terror” and against psychologists’ presence in deten- tion settings that fail the Geneva Conventions. The deterioration of military morale is also a tragic consequence of this war. From among my oral histories of the moral development of intelligence professionals, I present an illustrative passage (much abridged). The speaker is a senior army interrogator, trained in Arabic. He served in Iraq as a debriefer in the 2003 search for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

his was late August, 2002. Of course, being conscientious And then my number was coming up to go back again. I was strug- about my job, I wanted to see, okay, what’s this all about? gling the whole time with we shouldn’t be in Iraq, so how could I TNow the huge advantage that I had over you is that I had a go back there? And as the date grew closer for me, I became more terminal with “top secret” written across the top... At best, I could anxious. And the conflicting emotions that came with all that, be- make a circumstantial case that there could be WMD. But, I said, cause of what was happening at Gitmo, the people who were there, I don’t have access to the same level of information that the presi- and why they were there, and how they were being held. And yet dent does. He must know something that I don’t. I didn’t want to let anyone down. I felt a sense of shame of not be- ing able to pull my weight. And then a week before, I broke down. But then I went to Iraq. And that was priority intelligence re- I just cried uncontrollably in the office of the psychologist there. quirement number one: find some WMD. My unit spoke to physi- And I was just beside myself that I was of this state. That damn it, cists at universities who may not themselves have been involved if I am so right in my position, then why aren’t others with me? but they might know a colleague. And then you go out in the populace: “Has anyone ever seen someone bury something in But the clincher for it was when I told the psychologist I wasn’t sure the middle of the night?” And nothing. I mean, there were some if I could reconcile having a conscience and going to Gitmo, to the leads, but they all petered out. The blinders came off [me], and at point where I wasn’t sure if I would make it back from Gitmo alive. that point, it became a fraud. WMD was just a pretext. I could see myself committing suicide if the pressures became too much. But, of course, that was the final straw.... I retired. What if And I think the reason that this disillusionment had such a pro- this were ten years earlier, and I wasn’t eligible to retire yet? found effect on me is this idealistic notion that, we’re not perfect, but we’re trying, damn it; that America is a force for good. That Almost every sentence of this narrative evokes some familiar, man- just hit me almost like a physical force. How could I be let down like this by my own country? When I so closely identified myself ageable theme of psychology—identity theory, self-efficacy, social and built who I am on the fact that I’m a proud American. I felt comparison, etc. But the hard reality for a military professional sent betrayed by my own government, on so many levels. I mean, there’s into an unjust war (in the military sense) with further demands for the one layer where, “Hey, this is my ass you’re sending out here to Iraq. This is me in the line of fire.” All the way from that elemen- unjust conduct (in the military sense) invites more thought by peace tary level to more ideological reasons. That was so profound on me psychologists—and perhaps collaboration between peace psychology that I had to seek help from a mental health professional [laughs]. and military ethics.

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Would you like to show your support for peace in a more tangible—and visible—way?

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Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 39 Peace in the Face of Terror

Zach Rothschild, Matt Motyl and Tom Pyszczynski

Despite technological advances in food production, communication, and an increased sense of global interdependence, today’s world remains embroiled in a self-perpetuating cycle of violence. Wars, genocides, and rounds of deadly terrorist and counter-terrorist violence continue to plague humanity. Understanding the underlying motivations behind this violence may be the first step toward finding ways to break this cycle of brutality and move toward peaceful solutions to inter-group conflicts.

his article presents a Terror Manage- groups can be motivated toward violence Motyl et al. (2007) conducted another set ment Theory (TMT; Greenberg, Pyszc- by the same underlying anxieties. More of studies aimed at motivating peaceful co- Tzynski, & Solomon, 1986) analysis of recent research has shown that support for existence by encouraging people to view all the psychological underpinnings of inter- violence is not an inevitable response to humans as sharing a common humanity. In group violence along with empirical research existential fear. Although individuals with the first study, American college students demonstrating situational factors that can world views different from our own often were reminded of death or another adver- reduce inter-group hostility. Most of this re- evoke anger and hostility, the tendency to sive topic, and were then asked to make search has focused on reminding people of our aggress against others can be countered by judgments about a series of photographs commonalities, including our shared com- world-view values that promote tolerance that depicted families from diverse cultures passionate values and a sense that we are all and compassion. activating a sense of common humanity, members of the same human family. American families, or apparently unrelated Although religion itself has often been people. Participants’ automatic associations TMT is a psychological theory that ex- viewed as a catalyst for inter-group violence, between Arabs and positive and negative plains a wide variety of human behaviors most religions share the core values of love concepts were assessed with a common as being motivated by existential anxieties. and compassion. Rothschild, Abdollahi, and measure of implicit attitudes. Although Although humans like all other creatures Pyszczynski (2007) recently investigated the death reminders increased anti-Arab prej- have evolved to strive for self-preserva- effect of reminding people of their religion’s udice in the control conditions, death re- tion, our unique cognitive abilities lead us compassionate teachings on support for minders reduced prejudice for participants to recognize the inevitability of death. To violence after a death reminder. Because who viewed the pictures depicting diverse avoid the resultant anxiety, humans strive mortality reminders have been found to mo- families. A second study manipulated feel- to transcend their ephemeral nature by tivate individuals to live up to salient world- ings of common humanity by having partic- adopting cultural world views that imbue view values, then reminding people of the ipants read and respond to vignettes about life with meaning. By feeling embedded in compassionate teachings of their world view common childhood experiences supposedly a cultural world view and living up to so- after a death reminder should reduce hostil- written by either Americans or an ethni- cietally prescribed values, individuals gain ity towards the out-group. The first study was cally diverse group of authors. Once again, a sense of self-esteem and the possibility of conducted in the United States with a pre- although death reminders led to increased transcending their own mortality by being dominantly Christian sample. Participants out-group prejudice as measured by a scale a valuable contributor to an eternal reality. were reminded of death or an aversive topic assessing attitudes towards immigration in However, the existence of alternate world and responded to either compassionate Bib- the American author condition, this in- views threatens one’s psychological equa- lical quotations highlighting the teachings creased prejudice effect was eliminated nimity because it raises the possibility that of Jesus, or neutral quotations. Participants after a mortality reminder in the common one’s own world view may not be absolutely then completed a survey assessing support humanity condition. These studies suggest correct. TMT views the derogation of, and for the use of extreme military force to fight that appealing to a sense of common hu- hostility toward out-groups as attempts to terrorism, including willingness to kill thou- manity can obscure in-group/out-group dis- defuse the threat they pose to the in-group’s sands of innocent people to capture Osama tinctions and negate inter-group prejudice faith in their own world view. Bin Laden. Results indicated that although when existential fears are heightened. individuals high in religious fundamental- Over 350 empirical studies conducted in 16 ism were generally more supportive of using Reflecting on a history of violence, we countries have supported TMT hypotheses. extreme violence, after a mortality reminder, often neglect the fact that great individu- Most often these studies have found that high fundamentalists in the compassion- als and groups of people alike have been when individuals are reminded of death ate Biblical values condition showed a sig- able to push an agenda of peace through they become motivated to adhere to cultural nificant reduction in support for violence. A religious and secular activism. This is only standards of value, and derogate threatening parallel study conducted in Iran on a Shiite possible because sentiments of compassion out-groups. Death reminders have also been Muslim sample replicated this effect and and a sense of shared humanity pervade our shown to increase support for using extreme found that reminding participants of com- diverse systems of beliefs. While TMT has military force (e.g., nuclear weapons) in the passionate Quranic verses after a mortality previously been used to understand why war on terror in an American sample, and reminder significantly reduced hostility to- people are motivated to support violence increase support for suicide bombings in an ward the U.S. and its Western allies. Iranian sample. This shows how opposing Continued on page 41

40 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Congratulations announcements to the newly elected Position available officers of Division 48! Regional Psychological Consultant for Public Education Radio programs promoting reconciliation in East Africa President Elect: La Benevolencija Great Lakes, a Dutch Humanitarian Media production NGO, Eduardo Diaz is broadcasting educational programs to prevent violence and promote reconciliation, trauma recovery and active bystandership. The position involves working with Radio Be- Council Representatives: nevolencija’s production teams in Rwanda, The Democratic Republic Congo, and Burundi in training and application of the substantive psychological components used in the pro- Corann Okorodudu duction of La Benevolencija’s programs and grass roots activities. The Regional Psycho- Judy Van Hoorn logical Consultant executes her/his tasks in Africa in coordination with the organization’s academic team in the U.S. The Regional Psychological Consultant should be willing to Member-at-Large: commit to the project for a minimum of one year, renewable annually for an expected maximum of four years. Please contact [email protected] for more information. Judy Kuriansky Peace Research Task Force Looking at Meaning of a “Peaceful Person” Continued from page 40 The Peace Research Task Force is conducting research to develop against others, recent research lends em- an empirical understanding of the nature of a peaceful person. This research is based on pirical credence to strategies used by past the roundtable discussion led by Linden Nelson at the 2005 convention. The goal is to leaders who struggled for peace in times organize a symposium on this topic for the upcoming convention next year in Boston. of turmoil and oppression. By preaching People interested in joining the research group are encouraged to contact Dan Mayton messages of tolerance, love, and univer- ([email protected]). sal humanity, men like Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, and Jesus drastically changed the Theme Issue of Peace and Conflict Announced sociopolitical landscape. We must real- According to Editor Richard Wagner, the final 2007 issue of Peace and ize that these same values still exist deep Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology (Vol. 13, No. 4), features articles by psychologists who within the world views of people around attended a weekend devoted to understanding the process of military interrogation. The the world. Perhaps we need new voices to psychologists met with four retired senior military interrogators, who stated that their remind us of our common humanity and method of extracting information from a source is based on “rapport.” Clark McCauley shared compassionate values. characterizes their methods as the application of basic principles of social psychology, while Allison Redlich points out the differences and similarities between military and po- References Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., & Solomon, S. lice interrogation. Issue co-editor Jean Maria Arrigo and interrogator Ray Bennett debunk (1986). The causes and consequences of the the famous “ticking bomb” scenario and decry the coercive methods used by non-military need for self-esteem: A terror management interrogators at Guantanamo and elsewhere. Ronnie Janoff-Bulman, Ali Moghaddam, theory. In R. F. Baumeister (Ed.), Public self Robin Vallacher, and issue co-editor Richard Wagner add their perspectives to our under- and private self (pp. 189-212). New York: standing of interrogation. The military interrogators’ “testimony” provides a valuable per- Springer-Verlag. spective on the current debate about psychologists’ involvement in military and national Motyl, M., Pyszczynski, T., Cox, C., Siedel, A., & security interrogation. Maxfield, M. (2007). One big family: The effects of mortality salience and activating a sense of common humanity on prejudice. Manuscript The first issue of 2008 will feature Ethel Tobach, a true pioneer in peace psychology. Also submitted for publication, University of Colo- included in Volume 14, No. 1, will be a major article by Herb Kelman: “Evaluating the Con- rado, Colorado Springs, CO. tributions of Interactive Problem Solving to the Resolution of Ethnonational Conflicts.” Rothschild, Z., Abdollahi, A., & Pyszczynski, T. (2007). Does peace have a prayer? Effects of Chair and New Members Needed for Feminism, mortality salience, religious fundamentalism, and compassionate values on hostility toward Gender, and Peace Working Group the outgroup in the United States and Iran. Manuscript submitted for publication, University The working group, Feminism, Gender, and Peace is looking for a chair and of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO. new members to address research and activism relevant to the group’s charge. The chair posi- Zach Rothschild ([email protected]), tion would be for three years and is renewable. In the past, this working group has organized Matt Motyl ([email protected]) and Tom symposia at the annual convention and been involved in peace research and peace practitioner Pyszczynski ([email protected]) can be activities. If you are interested, please contact Dan Mayton ([email protected]), Debby Ragin contacted at the University of Colorado at ([email protected]), or Kathleen Dockett ([email protected]). Colorado Springs.

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 41 � R E P O R t s

APA Council of Representatives (COR) Report

by Division 48 Council Representatives Judy Van Hoorn and Corann Okorodudu

efore reporting on the August 2007 and briefly highlights some of the actions nance groups, none of which supported it. meeting, we want to inform you specified for APA as an organization and for The Ethics Committee recommended a Babout an agenda item sponsored by all psychologists. We are co-authors with further round of revision and review, but, Division 48 and Division 16 (School Psy- Beth Wiggins (Division 41: The American due to the urgency of the issue, Neil Alt- chology) that is scheduled for the APA Psychology–Law Society) and Bill Strick- man, as the sponsor of the “moratorium Council of Representatives’ (COR) Febru- land (Division 19: Society for Military Psy- resolution,” asked that it be placed on the ary 2008 meeting. It is critical to develop chology) of an article on the 2007 Resolu- agenda of COR’s August 2007 meeting. support for this item. tion in the November APA Monitor, which presents a more focused analysis and a call In June, the APA Board of Directors re- Task Force on the Psychosocial Effects to action. We were among the original co- viewed the feedback from the governance of War on Children and Families Who sponsors of the resolution whereby APA groups and developed a Substitute Motion are Refugees Residing in the U.S. would call for a non-binding moratorium to replace the “moratorium resolution” in the proceedings of COR. The Substitute The purpose of the proposed Task Force is on psychologists’ involvement in interroga- Motion did not include support for a mora- to assist psychologists in the U.S. to meet tions. (Linda Woolf substituted for Corann torium on psychologists’ participation in the challenges of working with immigrant Okorodudu at the meeting and was a co- interrogations. Instead, it prohibited an children and families who are refugees from sponsor of the resolution.) The challenges extensive list of specific interrogation tech- armed conflicts. Although there has been to consideration of this resolution changed niques. A month before the August COR increased attention to developing cultur- significantly in June when the APA Board meeting, Division 48’s representatives who ally appropriate practices and policies for proposed a Substitute Motion to replace had co-sponsored the “moratorium reso- immigrant groups, there has been little the “moratorium resolution.” Following lution” (including Linda Woolf) and the consideration of the special needs of the this, with the approval of Division 48’s Ex- other co-sponsors of the resolution became refugees from armed conflicts who migrate ecutive Committee, we worked hard and in aware of the Board’s Substitute Resolution to the U.S. collaboration with other Council Repre- sentatives to make the Substitute Motion, and began to formulate amendments to The Task Force Report will contribute to which was adopted by Council, as strong as strengthen the Board’s resolution as reaf- the integration of the diverse literature possible. firmation and application of existing APA relevant to the field and, in addition to a policy and to allow COR to discuss plac- scholarly review, provide a widely accessi- The Process ing limitations of psychologists’ participa- ble and comprehensive review for practitio- At the August 2006 meeting of COR, Neil tion in interrogation at detention centers. ners, researchers, and policy makers work- Altman, a representative of the Division of Through our initiative and collaboration ing in the U.S. The Task Force Report will Psychoanalysis (39) proposed a resolution with other COR representatives, this col- also include recommendations for practice whereby APA would call for a non-binding legial process on the amendments began that consider the effects of war and armed moratorium on all psychologists’ involve- quickly and thoughtfully through confer- conflict, that are developmentally and cul- ment in interrogations at U.S. detention ence calls and e-mail transmissions before turally appropriate, and that are relevant to centers. The Executive Committee of the the convention. We transmitted the draft specific populations. Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and to the listservs of the Divisions for Social Violence, APA Division 48, supported this Justice, COR, and Division 48’s Executive Report from the August 2007 resolution. Judy Van Hoorn, Linda Woolf, Committee for input. The Division 48 Ex- substituting for Corann Okorodudu during ecutive Committee approved it. APA Council Meeting the COR meeting, and Corann Okorodudu At the Convention, the work on the were co-sponsors of the proposed resolu- APA’s 2007 Resolution Against Torture amendments continued with a larger, more tion. The necessity for a moratorium was Perhaps the most hotly debated issue with- diverse group of COR members through based upon the possible denial to detain- in the Council of Representatives (COR) four face-to-face-meetings of the group, ees of protections outlined in the Geneva and the program at the 2007 Annual APA as well as numerous consultations among Conventions and the possible use of in- Convention in San Francisco was the par- themselves and others. There were sev- terrogation techniques in violation of the ticipation of psychologists in interrogations eral questions and points of disagreement. 2006 APA Resolution Against Torture and at U.S. detention centers for foreign detain- The 2007 Resolution adopted by Council Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treat- ees. This section of our report describes the represents consensus on numerous amend- ment or Punishment (CIDTP). The pro- process leading to the adoption by COR of ments to the Board’s Substitute Motion. posed resolution was reviewed by the Ethics the 2007 APA Resolution Against Torture The group was unable to reach consensus Committee and seven other APA gover-

42 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 R E P O R t s

on a key amendment which proposed that are contrary to the Geneva Convention, With a historic vote, Council approved “the roles of psychologists in settings in the U.N. Convention Against Torture and amendments to the APA By Laws and Asso- which detainees are deprived of adequate the 2006 APA Resolution Against Torture. ciation Rules regarding the composition of protection of their human rights, should be COR to add one voting representative from limited as health personnel to the provision The Resolution is especially strong in that each National Ethnic Minority Psychologi- of psychological treatment.” In contrast to it applies to all psychologists whose work cal Association (the American Association the moratorium resolution, this would have relates directly or indirectly with lawful or of Asian Psychologists, the Association of been a binding prohibition. In response to unlawful enemy combatants wherever they Black Psychologists, the Society of Indian a suggestion from Division 48’s representa- are held. This includes psychologists in Psychologists, and the National Latino/a tives, the group agreed unanimously to place the military, the CIA, consultants in var- Psychological Association). Council repre- this amendment on COR’s agenda so that ied roles and all other psychologists having sentatives from these groups shall be mem- it could be read and discussed by Council information relevant to the use of prohib- bers of their respective constituencies and members prior to the vote. Corann Okoro- ited interrogation techniques or conditions members of APA and shall be designated dudu introduced this amendment and Judy of detention that violate human rights. It by their respective associations. The pro- Van Hoorn and other Council representa- advances the struggle against torture by un- posed amendments will be sent to the APA tives spoke on the floor of Council urging equivocally condemning and prohibiting a membership for a vote in November 2007. Council to support the amendment that non-exhaustive list of 19 unethical inter- So we are asking Division 48’s members to would have limited psychologists participa- rogation techniques in keeping with the be alert to the call for the vote which will tion at Guantanamo and other such sites. UN conventions cited above, as well as the determine if the national ethnic minority After respectful yet vigorous and wide- 2006 Resolution Against Torture. psychological associations will be seated ranging debate, Council voted by a large as full voting members on Council for the The 2007 resolution clarifies the applica- majority not to adopt the amendment that February 2008 meeting. tion of Ethical Standard 1.02, which has we and others had proposed. been the topic of numerous questions. The Anti-Discrimination Resolutions The Resolution resolution affirms that there is never a jus- tification for torture and that the invoca- In adopting the recommendations of the The 2007 APA Resolution reaffirms APA’s tion of laws, regulations or orders is never World Conference Against Racism Report, 2006 Resolution Against Torture and Other a defense against engaging in torture under Council took initiatives that have resulted in CIDTP in its entirety as the general, com- APA Ethical Standards. Another path- three anti-discrimination resolutions in addi- prehensive policy applicable to all individ- breaking provision is that psychologists who tion to the APA Resolution Against Racism uals, in all settings and contexts, without take clear and unequivocal stances against (2001): (1) The APA Resolution on Anti- exceptions. It builds on the 2006 Resolu- torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading Semitic and Anti-Jewish Prejudice (2005); tion significantly by specifying actions for treatment or punishment, especially in the (2) the APA Resolution Against Prejudice, APA as an organization and prohibitions line of duty, are commended by APA. The Stereotypes, and Discrimination (2006); and and actions for individual psychologists. A Resolution thus affirms that psychologists (3) the APA Resolution on Religious, Reli- distinctive strength of the resolution is its may engage in civil disobedience consistent gion-Related and/or Religion-Derived Preju- recognition that “torture and other CIDTP with APA Ethics Code in cases where eth- dice (2007). Due to questions raised about can result not only from the behavior of ics and law conflict and calls upon psychol- the assumption in the original Resolution individuals, but also from the conditions of ogists to report torture and to cooperate in on Anti-Semitic and Anti-Jewish Prejudice confinement. all investigations of it, including investiga- that “anti-Semitism is frequently asserted in the context of discourse regarding the ac- Although the moratorium resolution and the tions by the U.S. government. We urge you to read the resolution in its entirety. tions of the State of Israel,” this resolution amendment that would have limited partici- was amended at the August 2007 meeting by pation did not pass, the resolution clarifies deleting “frequently” and substituting “Gov- that (a) APA expresses concern over settings Council Actions to Enhance ernment” for the “State” of Israel. Therefore, in which detainees are deprived of adequate Representation and Respect as the resolution currently reads, it cannot be protection of their human rights, (b) APA af- assumed that all persons who criticize Israeli firms the prerogative of psychologists to refuse for Diversity government policies are expressing covert or to work in such settings, and (c) APA shall “modern” anti-Semitism. explore ways to support psychologists who re- Amendment to Include Ethnic Minority Associations fuse to work in such settings or refuse to obey Ethnic Minority Recruitment, orders that constitute torture. Amendments to APA By Laws and Associa- Retention, and Training tion Rules are voted on by the membership. Importantly, the Resolution calls upon Taking into account both the successes We urge you to vote “yes” on this issue when APA to inform U.S. government agencies and remaining challenges revealed in the that psychologists are prohibited from par- you receive the ballot. APA Commission of Ethnic Minority ticipating in interrogation techniques that Recruitment, Retention, and Training 2 (CEMRRAT2) Task Force, Council ad-

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 43 R E P O R t s

opted a resolution calling for enhancing The Working Group for presented research in the areas of peace these facets of diversity through the con- and spirituality. This past year we promot- tinuing oversight of the Task Force of the Peace and Spirituality ed the theme of the impact of values on CEMRRAT2 Plan and directing the APA Steve Handwerker peace building to interested international CEO to include the Task Force recommen- The Working Group begins its twelfth practitioners through two symposia at the dations in the CEO’s proposed Diversity year and continues to engage bold new APA Midwinter Conference for Division Implementation Plan and the APA Strate- steps to expand its project venues, research 36 that focused on interfaith topics and gic Plan. endeavors and international community values research. A book will be published work. These all are in service of promoting from the compilation of contributions in Reimbursement Policy for Ethnic those values that promote peace. To this this venue. Additional work is currently Minority Members of Council point in time we have documented over 460 going on in relation to working with re- Council voted to continue this reimburse- inquiries! Some of the broad range of in- ligious and community leaders to expose ment policy, which first became effective terests that have been part of this Group’s the ideas of building interfaith harmony in August 2001 and has been helpful in activities include: publication of articles by through the generation of various curri- increasing ethnic minority representation members of the working group in the edited cula WITHIN the settings of each of the on Council. This policy applies mainly volume( by Samuel Natale) of “Conflict various groups. One such continuing proj- to the August meeting of COR, in that and the Sleep of Reason” (Oxford Uni- ect exposes and shares marriage ceremony since Council approval in January 2006, versity Publications 2006); the beginning rituals from different perspectives to differ- all Council members are fully reimbursed of a book with various members (and pro- ent religious groups. A book is still at the for their attendance at the February meet- fessionals outside 48) on “Building Unity beginning stages in this area of interfaith ing of Council. Council strongly encourages Through Education”; a presentation and work, and through the initiation of various Divisions and State, Provincial and Territorial publication at Oxford University of results members, it is receiving top priority, and we Associations to submit one or more slates of from international research on values that are seeking publishers for this project. We nominees for Council comprised solely of eth- promote peace; working within communi- are very excited about all this wonderful nic minorities. ties with religious leaders to create Sunday work. For anyone interested in any one of school curricula that address tolerance these projects please contact me. Any and Education for Sustainable and understanding between the faiths; all input is welcome! research in relation to resiliency (and the Development Steve Handwerker can be contacted at prevention of burnout) and the establish- [email protected] or 561-447-6700. The United Nations has declared a Decade ment and replication of cross validated, of Education for Sustainable Development multicultural Peace and Spirituality (2005-2014) with the UN Educational, Sci- measures; and participation in the APA entific, and Cultural Organization (UNES- Midwinter Conferences (last two years) at CO) as its lead agency. APA’s Education Loyola University, which will culminate Directorate has been in meetings with lead- in the publication of Visions in Conflict, a ers from over a dozen national disciplinary book based on these symposia. Over the associations, initiated by the Association previous eleven years over 60 programs � of American Colleges and Universities and addressing values that promote peace have the Association of University Leaders for been generated for APA conventions and a Sustainable Future, to address the chal- Midwinter conferences. “Action lenges of education for a sustainable future. This collaboration has resulted in a joint At this point, various tasks have been at the Resolution in Support of Education for Sus- forefront of the Group’s efforts: Creating tainable Development adopted by Council or participating in programs at professional as APA policy. conferences; working on a book on Building Interfaith Harmony and on another book is t�e The Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, on Peace and Spirituality. Another task and Violence has interest, scholarship and involves continuing international research practice on sustainable development that using a Peace Inventory that explores the anti�ote could be brought to bear on broadening the impact of values and their role in peace impact of this initiative. building and coping with trauma. We con- tinuously receive requests for permission to use this measure internationally and in a to �espair.”-Joan Baez greatly expanded number of venues! � Members of the working group attended an international conference in England and

44 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 R E P O R t s l e t t e r s

REFLECTIONS FROM PANAMA Peace is not the product of Hola, amigos! a victory or a command. reetings from Panama City where Ra- was told that to have the Report “received” Gmona and I are living until December by the Association—as proposed in our It has no finishing line, to see if we want to relocate here in 2008. Agenda item—would not be as powerful as We missed seeing you in San Francisco, but having it “reported” to the APA after being no final deadline, through the wonders of the internet, kept reviewed by a number of relevant Boards and no fixed definition of achievement. up with much of what happened there. We Committees. They suggested that I amend were saddened, but not surprised, when our item on the floor to have such a review Peace is a never-ending process, we read Linda Woolf’s commentary on take place so that the Association could do the work of many decisions. the Moratorium proposal at HYPERLINK: more with our findings and recommenda- http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/ASad- tions than just accepting them. DayforPsychologists.pdf. With little time to consult the rest of the – Oscar Arias As Yogi Berra said, it was like “deja vu all Task Force (there had been no mention of over again.” The experiences that she de- such a review process before this hurried scribed in dealing with the APA before and discussion), I amended the proposal as re- during the Council meetings brought back quested (although Bernice Lott, another many memories of my two years as Chair of TF member on Council, who was skeptical Peace Posters the Council’s Task Force on the Psychologi- of this last-minute turn of events, opposed cal Effects of Efforts to Prevent Terrorism. postponing the reception of our time-sen- Available At their February 2003 meetings we were sitive work). My expectation was that by charged with “assessing the emotional and going through the review process, the Re- Spread the message. behavioral effects of processes initiated in port would be stronger and the Association the U.S. to safeguard American lives and would act upon it more quickly and com- property and prevent future acts of terror- prehensively after Council approved it in Full-color, 11” x 17,” $10 for one ism.” Council approved this Task Force February 2005. poster, with shipping & handling proposal nearly unanimously with one Attending the meetings and responding included; additional posters $5 each long-time council member calling it the “most important task force ever established to the suggestions of the many boards and (i.e., 2/$15; 3/$20; 4/$25, etc.) by Council.” committees involved a lot more work for To order, e-mail: me and our authors, as these groups had dif- [email protected] The Board of Directors of the APA, President ferent interests and points of view regarding Sternberg and Secretary Levant vetted the 15 our findings and recommendations. When Task Force members that I recommended and we finished revising our Report in light of added one other researcher from NIH. We pur- their suggestions, the APA Board of Direc- sued our assignments individually and coordi- tors recommended it be rejected as lacking nated through conference calls attended by a “peer review” in spite of the fact that it was variety of employees of the APA’s Public Interest a policy piece and not an academic journal Directorate between June and October of 2003. article. It was also suggested that our find- The editing of the final document was done by ings and recommendations were too “po- e-mail with expert help from Art Kendall on the litical” (it seems that only the status quo is necessary detailed work. Three other experts in not “political” or “politically correct” at the reviewed our work in March Association). 2004. Their comments were taken into account in the Final Report that went to the Board of We brought our responses to the Board of Directors’ June 2004 meeting. At this meeting Directors’ objections to the February 2005 the Report was approved for the Council meet- Council meetings, only to find our item be- ings of July 2004. ing moved down the agenda by Ron Levant (presiding as President) until there were And then the fun began. Just before the just ten minutes left in the final afternoon afternoon session at which I was scheduled session. This was barely enough time to to present our Report to the APA Council, go over the main item and no time for Ron Levant, Rhea Farberman, Henry Tomes discussion of or response to the Board’s and my contact on the Board of Directors critique. Our first speaker was cut off by called me from lunch to discuss our Report. I Continued on page 46

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 45 Continued from page 45

Levant (there were several others ready assigned by the Public Interest Directorate that, in a moment of our history when even a and able to address their issues) and a vote to assist us as needed with our volunteer ac- supposedly independent press has largely sus- was called. We were voted down—as rep- tivities. The APA’s Director of Public Affairs pended its critical voice, there are still some resentatives were leaving to catch flights told me that the Association could not pub- who will call it as they see it. Psychologists are and other convention activities—and the lish some of our statements such as “more sometimes referred to as those who are willing Report was never received by the APA. people will die from the ‘war on terrorism’ to speak the unspeakable. There is no better than died on 9/11,” even before the Report time than now.” As many of you know, I took the initiative was seen by Council. In short, rather than to transform the 12 articles written by the feeling we were part of a professional orga- I sincerely hope that the time is not too Task Force members into chapters in Collat- nization working together to promote the far off when our membership association eral Damage: The Psychological Consequences general welfare, I felt that we were being led will speak with a clearer voice on criti- of America’s War on Terrorism published by through a series of obstacles in an effort to cal national and international issues. In Praeger in August 2006. The APA’s attorney prevent us from bringing to the public im- the meantime, I suggest that you read the made it clear that I was not to intimate in portant information about the effects of our rest of the PsyCritiques’ book review and/ any way that the book was endorsed or ap- government’s policies on terrorism. or buy a copy of Collateral Damage to see proved by the Association. what it is that the Association will not After being rejected, our Report was re- associate with. Like Linda in her struggles with the recent ferred to the Board of Scientific Affairs for Moratorium proposal, I felt neglected, mis- further review where it has remained undis- Hasta luego, led and taken advantage of by the Board of cussed for two and one half years. Thus, our Paul Kimmel (aka)

Directors and members of the APA Central findings and recommendations are available The Panama Kid Office. There was little money for the Task only to those who purchase Collateral Dam-

Force (our only meeting was at our own ex- age. Joanne Tortorici Luna favorably reviewed pense, staying late at the 2004 Convention our book in the August 15 (2007) online issue in Toronto) and no single staff member was of PsyCritiques. It ends, “It is good to know �

DONATIONS TO THE SOCIETY

A number of members have inquired about making monetary gifts to the Society. All such donations are greatly welcomed to help the Society meet our budget and to fund new and important peace-making activities! Donation checks should be made out to APA, Division 48, and should be sent to:

John Gruszkos, Division 48 Treasurer 7301 Forest Ave, Suite 201 Richmond, VA 23226 �

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46 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007 Division 48 Directory Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict andV iolence: Peace Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association As of November 2007

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS Michael Van Slyck, Co-chair EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Linda M. Woolf, Chair − see Past President Dept. of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 808 West Franklin St., P.O. Box 842018, Richmond VA, PRESIDENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE 23284-2018; (804) 828-8034; Fax (804) 828-2237; Dan Mayton Catherine Byrne, Chair − see Executive Committee [email protected] Lewis-Clark State College, PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE 500 Eighth Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501-2698; PEACE AND SPIRITUALITY Dan Christie, Chair, (208) 792-2280; Fax (208) 792-2820; [email protected] Steve Handwerker Dept. of Psychology, Ohio State University, 1465 Mt. Vernon The International Association for the PAST PRESIDENT Ave., Marion, OH 43302; (614) 292-9133 x6244 (w); Advancement of Human Welfare Linda M. Woolf (740) 363-0518 (h); Fax (614) 292-5817; [email protected] 7300 W. Camino Real Ste. 229, Boca Raton, FL 33433; Webster University, 470 East Lockwood Ave., JW P. Heuchert − see Executive Committee (561) 447-6700; [email protected] Saint Louis, MO 63119-3194; (314) 968-7062; [email protected] Janet Schofield STUDENT AND EARLY CAREER 517 LRDC, University of Pittsburgh, Pitts., PA 15260-0001; PRESIDENT-ELECT (412) 624-7473; [email protected] Deborah Fish Ragin LIAISONS Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Richard V. Wagner − see Executive Committee PsySR 1 Normal Avenue, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043; Deborah DuNann Winter Colleen Cordes, Executive Director (973) 655-4176; [email protected] Dept. of Psychology, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA Psychologists for Social Responsibility, 208 I St. NE, Suite B, SECRETARY 99362; (509) 527-5123; [email protected] Washington, DC 20002-4340; (202) 543-5347; Fax (202) Kathleen Dockett 543-5348; [email protected] STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE University of the District of Columbia, Dan Mayton − see President DIVISION 2 − TEACHING OF PSYCHOLOGY Washington, DC 20008; Linda M. Woolf − see Past President (202) 274-5705; Fax (202) 274-5003; [email protected] WORKING GROUPS DIVISION 9 − SPSSI TREASURER Paul Kimmel CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND WAR John Gruszkos 1817 Fuller Ave., #204, Los Angeles, CA 90046; Petra Hesse, Co-chair Glen Forest Associates, Ltd, 7301 Forest Ave., (323) 876-8932; [email protected] Suite 201, Richmond, VA 23226; Wheelock College, 200 The Riverway, Boston, MA 02215 (804) 285-4121; Fax (804) 285-4123; [email protected] (617) 879-2307; [email protected] DIVISION 19 − SOCIETY FOR MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY Deanna Beech Kathleen Kostelny, Co-chair MEMBERS-AT-LARGE 5253 Ed Prout Rd., Lothian, MD 20711; [email protected] Julie Levitt Erikson Institue, 420 N. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60611; 33 East Princeton Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004-2242; (312) 893-7188; [email protected] DIVISION 35 − PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN Corann Okorodudu − see APA Council of Representatives (610) 644-3980; Fax (610) 664-3975; [email protected] Judith Van Hoorn − see APA Council Representatives DIVISION 36 − PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION Donna Read CONFLICT RESOLUTION Eileen Borris Alliance for Resilient Communities, Steve Fabick, Chair Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, 6450 E. Hummingbird 2700 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201; 640 N. Old Woodward, Suite 201, Birmingham, MI 48009 Lane, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253; (480) 951-0544 (phone; for (703) 243-7445; [email protected] (248) 258-9288; [email protected] fax, same number and then press *51); [email protected] John Paul Szura Barbara Tint, Co-chair DIVISION 44 − LESBIAN AND GAY ISSUES 1165 E. 54th Place, Chicago, IL 60615; (773) 684-6510 x17; Director, International and Intercultural Conflict Resolution, Bianca Cody Murphy Fax (773) 684-9830; [email protected] Conflict Resolution Graduate Program , Portland State Psychology Dept., Coordinator of Women Studies, University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751; RECRUITMENT, RETENTION & PUBLIC RELATIONS Wheaton College, Norton, MA 02766; (508) 286-3690; (503) 291-8183; Fax (503) 725-3693; [email protected]. Joan Gildemeister Fax (508) 286-3640; [email protected] 4406 35th St, N.W., Washington, DC 20008-4204; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND JUSTICE DIVISION 45 − ETHNIC MINORITY ISSUES (202) 363-6197; Fax (202) 363-9270; [email protected] Deborah DuNann Winter, Co-chair − see Publications Jim Statman Committee APA COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES 34 Chestnut Street, Rhinebeck, NY 12572; Judith Van Hoorn ETHNICITY AND PEACE Aurora Associates, 1825 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 640 Dept. of Educational and Counseling Psychology, School of Deborah Fish Ragin, Co-chair − see President-Elect Washington, DC 20009; (845)876-4211; Fax (202)588-5881; Education, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211 [email protected] (510) 233-2959 (h); [email protected] FEMINISM AND PEACE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN GLOBAL VIOLENCE AND SECURITY Corann Okorodudu PSYCHOLOGY (CIRP) Brian Betz, Co-chair Dept. of Psychology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028 Eileen Borris – see Division 36 (856) 256-4500 x 3782; Home Fax (856)848-0142; Dept. of Psychology, Kent State University, Stark Campus, Office Fax (856) 256-4892; [email protected] 6000 Frank Ave. NW, Canton, OH 44720-7599; (330) 499-9600 x 414; [email protected] SPECIAL TASKS PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIR Catherine Byrne Marc Pilisuk, Co-chair ARCHIVES Psychology Dept., University of California, Santa Cruz, Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center, Michael Wessells 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, California 95064; 494 Cragmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94708-1206; Dept. of Psychology, Randolph-Macon College, (831) 459-2795; [email protected] (510) 526-0876; Fax (510) 526-0876; [email protected] Ashland, VA 23005; JOURNAL EDITOR Diane Perlman, Co-chair (804) 752-7236; Fax (804) 752-4724; [email protected] Richard V. Wagner 1325 18th St. NW #404 Washington DC 20036 Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04240; (202) 775-0777; [email protected] DIVISION HANDBOOK John Paul Szura – see Members-at-Large (207) 786-6185 (w); (207) 784-0645 (h); Fax (207) 786- INTERNATIONAL PEACE PRACTITIONERS 8338); [email protected] Joanie Connors, Co-chair JOURNAL EDITOR NEWSLETTER EDITOR University of Western New Mexico, Silver City, NM 88061 Richard V. Wagner – see Executive Committee JW P. Heuchert (505) 388-4088; [email protected] Dept. of Psychology, Allegheny College, 520 North Main David Adams, Co-chair NEWSLETTER EDITOR St., Meadville, PA, 16335-3902; (814) 332-2397; Fax (814) 256 Shore Drive, Branford, CT, 06405 JW P. Heuchert – See Executive Committee 332-4321; [email protected] (203) 488-3044; [email protected] PEACE PSYCHOLOGY TEACHING RESOURCE COMMITTEES PEACE AND EDUCATION COLLECTION & LISTSERV MODERATOR Linden Nelson, Co-chair Linda M. Woolf – see Past President FELLOWS COMMITTEE Department of Psychology and Child Development, Leila (Lee) F. Dane Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407; WEB SITE Institute for Victims of Trauma, 6801 Market Square Dr., (805) 756-5705; [email protected] www.peacepsych.org McLean, VA 22101; Tel. (703) 847-8456; Linda M. Woolf – see Past President Fax (703) 847-0470; [email protected]

Fall/Winter 2007 Peace Psychology 47 Invite Friends to Join Division 48 Division 48 web site Please visit the Division 48 web site at: Invite your friends to join the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, http://www.peacepsych.org and Violence: Peace Psychology Division of the American Psychologi- cal Association (Division 48). Give them a membership application and There is a second way to get to our web site—go to the APA web invite them to join the Society and a working group! site, scroll down to Division 48, click on it, and you’ll find our web site address at the bottom of that page. The APA URL is: The Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, andV iolence works to pro- http://www.apa.org/about/division.html. mote peace in the world at large and within nations, communities, and families. It encourages psychological and multidisciplinary research, Let me know if you have any difficulty getting to our web site. education, and training on issues concerning peace, nonviolent conflict Linda M. Woolf resolution, reconciliation and the causes, consequences, and preven- [email protected] tion of violence and destructive conflict.

peace is possible. think it. plan it. do it.

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48 Peace Psychology Fall/Winter 2007