Peace psychology

Since the inception of modern psychology, psychologists have distinguished between thoughts and actions. Similarly, peace psychologists distinguish sharply between conflicts and violence which they equate with thoughts and actions, respectively. Conflict (between individuals or groups) is often defi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christie, Daniel J., Noor, Noraini M.
Format: Book Chapter
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/2/Bibliographic_EntryFINALApr2013.pdf
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spelling iium-343332014-01-16T02:46:53Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/ Peace psychology Christie, Daniel J. Noor, Noraini M. BF636 Applied psychology Since the inception of modern psychology, psychologists have distinguished between thoughts and actions. Similarly, peace psychologists distinguish sharply between conflicts and violence which they equate with thoughts and actions, respectively. Conflict (between individuals or groups) is often defined as the perception of incompatible goals, whether real or imagined, while violence refers to coercive actions that are intentionally carried out with the intent of harming others. Therefore, in peace psychology the sources and consequences of conflict are often treated separately from violence. In addition, peace psychologists distinguish two general types of violence: episodic and structural. An episode of violence is a discrete, observable event which is aimed at inflicting physical harm on an individual or group. The episode may occur once or repeatedly. While episodes may be dramatic and deadly, structural violence is insidious and normalized in societies; structural violence is “just the way things are.” Structural violence kills people just as surely as violent episodes but structural violence kills slowly and curtails life spans through the deprivation of human rights and basic human needs. For example, if there is enough food in the world for everyone, yet some people die of starvation, then structural violence is taking place. Structural violence is supported and justified by the dominant narratives of a society or, put another way, structural violence is supported by cultural violence, the latter of which refers to the symbolic sphere of human existence. In regard to peace, negative peace interventions are designed to prevent and mitigate violent episodes while positive peace interventions are aimed at the reduction of structural violence. To elaborate: negative peace interventions can be tailored to various phases of a violent episode: (1) conflict phase which precedes the violent episode, (2) violent episode phase, or (3) post violence phase. In contrast, structural and cultural violence cannot be prevented because all societies have some degree of ongoing structural and cultural violence. Positive peace interventions involve social and cultural transformations that reduce structural and cultural violence and promote a more equitable social order that meets the basic needs and rights of all people. Peace psychology therefore deals with the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions of individuals and groups that are involved in violent episodes as well as the prevention and mitigation of violent episodes. Peace psychology also deals with thoughts, feelings, and actions that (re)produce social injustices as well as socially just arrangements between individuals and groups. Sustainable peace requires continuing efforts to craft facilitative synergies between nonviolent means and social just ends, that is, the pursuit of negative and positive peace. Oxford University Press 2013-11-27 Book Chapter PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/2/Bibliographic_EntryFINALApr2013.pdf Christie, Daniel J. and Noor, Noraini M. (2013) Peace psychology. In: Oxford Bibliographies. Oxford University Press, United Kingdom, pp. 1-38. ISBN 9780199828340 http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199828340/obo-9780199828340-0134.xml 10.1093/OBO/9780199828340-0134
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Local University
institution International Islamic University Malaysia
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
language English
topic BF636 Applied psychology
spellingShingle BF636 Applied psychology
Christie, Daniel J.
Noor, Noraini M.
Peace psychology
description Since the inception of modern psychology, psychologists have distinguished between thoughts and actions. Similarly, peace psychologists distinguish sharply between conflicts and violence which they equate with thoughts and actions, respectively. Conflict (between individuals or groups) is often defined as the perception of incompatible goals, whether real or imagined, while violence refers to coercive actions that are intentionally carried out with the intent of harming others. Therefore, in peace psychology the sources and consequences of conflict are often treated separately from violence. In addition, peace psychologists distinguish two general types of violence: episodic and structural. An episode of violence is a discrete, observable event which is aimed at inflicting physical harm on an individual or group. The episode may occur once or repeatedly. While episodes may be dramatic and deadly, structural violence is insidious and normalized in societies; structural violence is “just the way things are.” Structural violence kills people just as surely as violent episodes but structural violence kills slowly and curtails life spans through the deprivation of human rights and basic human needs. For example, if there is enough food in the world for everyone, yet some people die of starvation, then structural violence is taking place. Structural violence is supported and justified by the dominant narratives of a society or, put another way, structural violence is supported by cultural violence, the latter of which refers to the symbolic sphere of human existence. In regard to peace, negative peace interventions are designed to prevent and mitigate violent episodes while positive peace interventions are aimed at the reduction of structural violence. To elaborate: negative peace interventions can be tailored to various phases of a violent episode: (1) conflict phase which precedes the violent episode, (2) violent episode phase, or (3) post violence phase. In contrast, structural and cultural violence cannot be prevented because all societies have some degree of ongoing structural and cultural violence. Positive peace interventions involve social and cultural transformations that reduce structural and cultural violence and promote a more equitable social order that meets the basic needs and rights of all people. Peace psychology therefore deals with the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions of individuals and groups that are involved in violent episodes as well as the prevention and mitigation of violent episodes. Peace psychology also deals with thoughts, feelings, and actions that (re)produce social injustices as well as socially just arrangements between individuals and groups. Sustainable peace requires continuing efforts to craft facilitative synergies between nonviolent means and social just ends, that is, the pursuit of negative and positive peace.
format Book Chapter
author Christie, Daniel J.
Noor, Noraini M.
author_facet Christie, Daniel J.
Noor, Noraini M.
author_sort Christie, Daniel J.
title Peace psychology
title_short Peace psychology
title_full Peace psychology
title_fullStr Peace psychology
title_full_unstemmed Peace psychology
title_sort peace psychology
publisher Oxford University Press
publishDate 2013
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/34333/2/Bibliographic_EntryFINALApr2013.pdf
first_indexed 2023-09-18T20:49:30Z
last_indexed 2023-09-18T20:49:30Z
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