Armed Conflict: A Model for Understanding and Intervention

Abstract

Acts of deadly violence give rise to powerful emotions and trigger pre-programmed responses that often cause affected persons, including leaders, media, armed forces, and the general public, to act in ways that aggravate the situation and feed into cycles of violence. In this article, a model of the cycle of violence is presented that facilitates logical analysis and response. Starting from an act of deadly violence this model traces a series of interacting factors that can lead to armed conflict. These include distortions of perception and response that impact the public and their leaders. Negative codes, prejudices, and myths feed fear and grief, which may then escalate and lead to violent retaliation thereby triggering a similar response. Those professionals who care for bereaved individuals and families are familiar with these emotions and responses and are well qualified to analyze, explain, and support people affected by armed conflict. We suggest that they could also play educational and other important roles in reducing escalation and breaking the cycle of violence.

Acknowledgments

This document was prepared by the Armed Conflict Work Group of the International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement: Colin Murray Parkes (Chair); Betty Davies (Secretary), Thomas Attig, Robert Bendiksen, Fernando Cabrera, Charles Corr, Gerry Cox, Susanna Faust, Robert Fulton, Peter Jupp, Kjell Kallenberg, Elizabeth Lamers, William Lamers, Scott Long, Diane McKissock, Mal McKissock, Mary Ann Morgan, Danai Papadatou, Robert Stevenson, Sandol Stoddard, Robert Weiss, and Marcy Wrenn.