Psychological Effects of Genocide

Genocide is the malicious act of murdering mass amounts of people in the name of a particular religion, ethnic cleansing, or political or territorial disputes. There are many people of all ages that have been victims of these horrific incidents; for most survivors dealing with the aftermath of a genocide, it's a day-to-day struggle. One of the struggles is post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychological effect brought on by severe trauma.

Avoidance and Detachment

• Avoidance refers to a sense of despondency in the victim. They may feel detached from their emotions and exhibit little to no emotion in various emotional events. For example, they may not cry or show sadness over another's death. The victim may avoid locations that remind them of the genocide or have trouble getting interested in normal activities they used to enjoy.

Involuntary Physical Reponses

• This refers to an involuntary physical response in the victim due to the event. The victim may have problems with focusing attention or concentrating on a given task. They also may have trouble sleeping. An overheightened awareness of surroundings, such as an excessive amount of checking locks for example, is a sign of psychological distress. A response to startling situations, such as extreme anxiety after a loud noise, can also be a symptom of post-traumatic stress.

Re-living an Event

• Certain events or stressors can bring on intense nightmares or memories concerning the genocide, such as watching a similar event occurring in a movie or media outlet or events like anniversaries or memorials concerning the victims of the genocide.

Survivor's Guilt

• Survivor's guilt is a complex emotional feeling. Survivors of the genocide may feel relieved that they have survived the horrific event; however, they may feel some guilt about those that were murdered. They may feel that their actions prevented others from surviving as well or that they were unable to save someone who was killed.