A World Turned Upside Down: Social Ecological Approaches to Children in War ZonesNeil Boothby, Alison Strang, Michael G. Wessells * Authors with wide-ranging experience with children in war zones across the globe * Looks at the psychology of children’s experiences in conflict in the context of their families and communities A World Turned Upside Down looks at the experiences of children in war from a psychological and social ecological perspective, offering thoughtful observations and dispelling myths about what results when children grow up in conflict situations. In contrast to individualized approaches, the volume offers a deeper conceptualization that shows the socially mediated impacts of war. Children exposed to the same traumatic experiences may have different reactions and needs for psychosocial support. Further, psychosocial assistance to war-affected children often occurs not through the provision of therapy by outsiders but via support from insiders. Each contributor has worked extensively with children in war zones in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. They refrain from common perceptions of children as victims of war-induced trauma to provide a holistic understanding of children’s experiences. Each helps pinpoint ways to reduce further violence, foster well-being and nurture the kinds of social connections that can liberate children from the pathologies of war so that they can mature into healthy and well-adjusted adults. Other contributors: Alastair Ager, Cairo Arafat, Catherine Chen, Amy E. Hepburn, Kathleen Kostelny, Siobhán McEvoy-Levy, Susan McKay, Dahab Musleh and Carl Triplehorn |
Contents
A culturebased integrative approach | 19 |
What is family? | 39 |
Running scared | 63 |
Girlhoods stolen | 89 |
Education and hope | 111 |
Silenced voices? | 133 |
When former child soldiers grow up | 155 |
A living wage | 179 |
Religion as resource and risk | 199 |
Layers of support | 223 |
About the Authors | 243 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abducted abuse activities adults Africa agencies Ager Angola armed conflict armed groups behavior beliefs Boothby boys camps chil child protection Christian Children's Fund context coping CPANs cultural displaced dren economic effects emergencies emotional example experiences family members fighting forces former child soldiers framework gender girl soldiers human rights Human Rights Watch humanitarian ICRC identity impact institutions interactions International Rescue Committee Intifada Kosovo Kostelny Lhanguene Center lives Maputo McKay and Mazurana Mozambique munity needs NGOs one’s Palestinian children parents participation peace peers people’s percent physical programs psychological psychosocial interventions psychosocial support psychosocial well-being recruitment refugee reintegration religion religious Renamo reported resilience response risk rituals roles Save the Children separated children sexual violence Sierra Leone situations skills social ecology spiritual stress Taliban teachers tion trauma Uganda UNHCR UNICEF Univ vulnerable war-affected children Wessells women York young youth zones