Disarming Ex-Combatants’ Minds: Toward Situated Reintegration Process in Post-conflict Colombia

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Sandra Baez¹  Hernando Santamaría-García²  Agustín Ibáñez⁴ 

[1] Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de los Andes;Intellectus-Hospital Universitario San Ignacio;Pontificia Universidad Javeriana;Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience, Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience, INECO Foundation, Favaloro University;National Scientific and Technical Research Council;Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez;Universidad Autónoma del Caribe;ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders

关键词: collective violence;    armed conflict;    reintegration process;    post-conflict Colombia;    ex-combatants;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00073

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Collective violence in the context of armed conflict impacts the economy, health systems, and social stability of affected countries. This is considered a complex phenomenon with interwoven biological, psychological, social, cultural, and political factors. However, most of the research on this topic still lacks suitable established integrative approaches to assess multilevel perspectives. Social, cognitive and affective mental processes (SCAMP) are critical factors that should be considered in multilevel approaches. In this article, we critically discuss some of the classically isolated approaches used in violence research, the absence of successful interventions for ex-combatants reintegration, and the specific neglect of SCAMP in these interventions. We present the case of post-conflict Colombia as a unique opportunity to study the different roots of collective violence, and we call for a more robust and situated approach to understanding of and intervention in this multifaceted phenomenon. In addition, we suggest a two-stage approach for addressing ex-combatants’ reintegration programs, which considers the situated nature of post-conflict scenarios and the urgent need for evidence-based interventions. This approach focuses on the comprehensive scientific assessment of specific factors involved in violence exposure and the subsequent design of successful interventions. The implementation of this approach will contribute to the effective reintegration of individuals who have been exposed to extreme violence for more than 50 years.

【 授权许可】

CC BY