Growing Up with Fear

Abstract

This chapter explores the impact of political violence on children and youth through an examination of theory and research, particularly social-ecological systems theory, dealing with prolonged exposure to armed political conflicts and experiences of single-incident attacks. The chapter discusses both the direct traumatic effects of being a victim of political violence and the indirect effects of living in communities and societies in which the experience of violence is transmitted through the media to the minds of children, adults, and policymakers. The chapter further discusses the role and limitations of psychological resiliency and the importance of fostering normalcy to help children overcome the effects of exposure to political violence. The chapter concludes with suggestions for programmatic initiatives at the community and national level that reinforce a return to normalcy and provide assistance to traumatized children and adolescents.