The Influence of Organized Violence and Terror on Brain and Mind: A Co-Constructive Perspective

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511499722.017

15 - The Influence of Organized Violence and Terror on Brain and Mind: A Co-Constructive Perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 July 2009

Thomas Elbert ,

Brigitte Rockstroh ,

Iris-Tatjana Kolassa ,

Maggie Schauer and

Frank Neuner

Edited by

Paul B. Baltes ,

Patricia A. Reuter-Lorenz and

Frank Rösler

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Thomas Elbert: Affiliation:
Professor and Chair of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology University of Konstanz, Germany
Brigitte Rockstroh: Affiliation:
Professor and Chair of Clinical Psychology University of Konstanz, Germany
Iris-Tatjana Kolassa: Affiliation:
Research Scientist, Department of Psychology University of Konstanz, Germany
Maggie Schauer: Affiliation:
Director of the Psychological Research Clinic for Refugees, University of Konstanz, Germany
Frank Neuner: Affiliation:
Junior Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy University of Konstanz, Germany
Paul B. Baltes: Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, Berlin
Patricia A. Reuter-Lorenz: Affiliation:
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Frank Rösler: Affiliation:
Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany

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Summary

Genetic interventions make us better animals. Humans, we become, however, because of the ways that culture and our individual constructions exploit the brain and make it our servant.

(Baltes & Singer, 2001, p. 72)

ABSTRACT

The human brain is formed by two interactive systems: the genetic-biological and the sociocultural systems. The brain, in turn, regulates behavior and thereby acts on the societal environment. This chapter examines how experience shapes the brain and describes the interaction of brain, behavior, and culture under conditions of extreme and traumatic stress as present in many of the world's war-torn regions. Traumatic events massively change the brain's structure and function. Within our model of biological-cultural interaction, we analyze how these experiences foster violent behavior and deal with the societal consequences of the traumatization of large parts of the population.

INTRODUCTION

In this day and age, humans are raised and live in a complex sociocultural environment with increased demands for the brain, the body, and the social structures to adapt. More information at increasingly complex levels has to be processed than ever before at an ever-increasing velocity and over an extended lifespan. This places high pressure on the individual and society to continuously adjust to new environmental conditions, resulting in a stream of continuous microstressors. At the same time, modern societies are becoming increasingly aware of the effects of macrostressors, including traumatic stress, which, although seemingly transient, may be changing the brain's processing machinery, resulting in characteristic behavioral, physiological, and psychological (mal)adaptations to environmental conditions and – when a whole community is affected – changes in the local culture.

Type: Chapter
Information: Lifespan Development and the Brain
The Perspective of Biocultural Co-Constructivism
, pp. 326 - 349

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511499722.017 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2006

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