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The contribution of All Quiet on the Western Front to our understanding of psychological trauma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Nigel Hunt
Nigel Hunt*
Affiliation:
Institute for Work, Heath and Organisations, The University of Nottingham, 8 William Lee Buildings, Nottingham Science and Technology Park, University Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 2RQ, UK
*
Email address: [email protected]
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Abstract

The most effective way of coping with a traumatic event is to develop a narrative, which can take many forms, e.g., talking to friends and family, formal treatment, written accounts. Autobiographical works and novels by ex-soldiers are good examples of texts, which can aid psychologists’ understanding of traumatic stress, providing powerful insights not normally obtained through traditional psychological methods. Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, illustrates the psychological problems experienced by men in battle. Psychologists have rarely used novels as sources of data, yet they provide a rich insight into the problems associated with traumatic events. The issues raised in the book include: an account of battle experience, civilian understanding, memory and coping. This approach can be used to extend our understanding of traumatic situations.

Keywords

Traumatic stressCopingNarrativeMemory
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 19 , Issue 8 , December 2004 , pp. 489 - 493
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2004

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