Psychology and genocide. The development of a profession in Rwanda

Journal title PSICOTERAPIA E SCIENZE UMANE
Author/s Adriano Zamperini, Marta Bettini
Publishing Year 2015 Issue 2015/1
Language Italian Pages 16 P. 71-86 File size 83 KB
DOI 10.3280/PU2015-001004
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Between April and July 1994, Rwanda suffered a genocide distinguished by its intensity and severity of violence: about one million people were killed. Given the large numbers of Rwandans who experienced major traumatic events, not surprisingly in the aftermath of 1994 numerous epidemiological studies showed high rates of psychological and psychosocial problems in the population of Rwanda. Social programs and mental health services established for genocidetraumatized Rwandans emphasize the role of clinical psychology as a profession. This article reflects on the potentialities and challenges of implementing psychological interventions in the aftermath of a genocide, focusing on group therapy. More specifically, this article explores the position of clinical psychologists among Western ‘medicalization’ of mental disorders and traditional healing mechanisms.

Keywords: Genocide, collective trauma, professional career in psychology, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Rwanda

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Adriano Zamperini, Marta Bettini, Psicologia e genocidio. Nascita di una professione in rwanda in "PSICOTERAPIA E SCIENZE UMANE" 1/2015, pp 71-86, DOI: 10.3280/PU2015-001004