The Psychological Effects of the Civil War Documents

The Civil War ripped the United States in half and pitted neighbors and even families against each other. Although this war occurred more than a century ago, the effects of the conflict on soldiers and civilians were crystallized in documents that have been handed down from that period. These documents, including diaries, military reports, news clippings and photographs, still have deep psychological effects on many who review them.

Anxiety

• Although the Civil War accomplished many positive outcomes and paved the way for the modern United States, the war was still fought by individuals who suffered war's common consequences: bloodshed, death and destruction. For this reason, reading and watching documentary evidence about the Civil War can make some anxious during and after viewing. This effect is often brought on by reading war diaries and viewing firsthand photographic evidence of the carnage. While this effect is not usually long lasting, those feeling anxious should break from their study until their nerves have calmed.

Desensitization

• Desensitization toward violence is often a result of witnessing violence such as that caught in television footage or pictures and accounts of violence, including Civil War documents. These accounts, especially when detailing pain or the processes of destruction, can make the reviewer lose a healthy perspective on the actions being taken by soldiers. This can lead to increased aggressive tendencies or a feeling of dehumanization or disconnection from society. This psychological effect is similar to the psychological effects of actual participation in combat and war, suggesting a particularly deep degree of identification with the material being reviewed. Those feeling like they are losing their sense of perspective should break from their review of Civil War material for a while until they are feeling better.

Catharsis

• According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a catharsis is "a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension." This sort of transforming spiritual revelation can happen when viewing violence such as Civil War documents. The release usually does not come about while reading about the war, but afterward when pondering the meaning of the war (e.g. an end to slavery, the preservation of a strong Union) and the disposition of combatants (e.g. fighting for their homes and on their homelands.) This effect is generally positive and can be long lasting and, in some cases, life changing.