Memory, War and Trauma

A compelling examination of how societal and cultural factors can influence psychological responses to war.

Nigel C. Hunt (Author)

9780521887847, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 May 2010

246 pages, 2 tables
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.5 cm, 0.52 kg

'… the author sheds new light on the individual and social narratives relating to this enormous subject.' Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

Many millions of people are affected by the trauma of war. Psychologists have a good understanding of how experiences of war impact on memory, but the significance of external environmental influences is often disregarded. Memory, War and Trauma focuses on our understanding of the psychosocial impact of war in its broadest sense. Nigel C. Hunt argues that, in order to understand war trauma, it is critical to develop an understanding not only of the individual perspective but also of how societal and cultural factors impact on the outcome of an individual's experience. This is a compelling book which helps to demonstrate why some people suffer from post-traumatic stress while other people don't, and how narrative understanding is important to the healing process. Its multidisciplinary perspective will enable a deeper understanding of both individual traumatic stress and the structures of memory.

1. Background and purpose
2. Historical perspective
3. Methods and ethics
4. Current theory: post-traumatic stress disorder
5. Approaches to understanding trauma
6. Positive outcomes of traumatic experiences
7. Memory and history
8. Personal narrative and social discourse
9. Illustrating narrative as a scientific technique: the role of social support
10. Ageing, trauma and memory
11. Literature and trauma
12. Memorialisation and commemoration
13. Battlefield tours
14. Conclusions and future directions.

Subject Areas: Psychiatry [MMH], Health psychology [MBNH9], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Psychology [JM], Sociology [JHB]