Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress: The Psychological Consequences of Killing

by Rachel M. MacNair

Overview

This volume introduces the concept of Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress (PITS), a form of PTSD symptoms caused not by traditionally expected roles, such as being a victim or rescuer in trauma, but by being an active participant in causing trauma. Sufferers of PITS may be in the roles of soldiers, executioners, or police officers, where it is socially acceptable or even expected for them to cause trauma, including death. Scattered evidence of PITS is consolidated, its implications are explored, and exciting potentials for future research are suggested.

Compared to the more widely understood PTSD, there appears to be greater severity and different symptom patterns for those affected by PITS. Obvious differences to be explored for those who kill include questions of context, guilt, meaning, content of dreams, and sociological questions, leading to special implications for therapy, research into the causality of PTSD, and violence prevention efforts. Disciplines including sociology, public policy, history, philosophy, and theology will also find applications for this groundbreaking material.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275976910
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/30/2002
Series:	Psychological Dimensions to War and Peace Series
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

RACHEL M. MACNAIR is Director of the Institute for Integrated Social Analysis, a research organization specializing in the connections between various social issues of violence.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress
Veterans
Executioners
Nazis
Both Sides of Law Enforcement
Is It Violence? Abortion Practitioners
Other Groups to Study
Implications for Psychology
Social Implications
Research Agenda
Technical Aspects of Research
Conclusion
Appendix: Statistics from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Very little research on posttraumatic stress disorder has focused on people who have killed others, and McNair, a researcher into connections between various social issues of violence, takes a first step in filling the gap. Among her topics are combat veterans, executioners, the Nazis, abortion providers, implications for psychology, and social implication. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR