Conference hears how individual and communal disrespect triggers a need for revenge and capacity for violence. Sylvia Thompson reports.
Humiliation and disrespect are the driving forces behind terrorism. This was one of the central messages of a talk by psychiatrist and politician Lord John Alderdice on Terrorism and Trauma - the experience of The Troubles at an international conference in Dublin at the weekend.
Speaking about his work at the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in the late 1990s, he said: "The individual and communal experience of disrespect seemed to be the most serious issue and it was this [feeling of disrespect] which led to a deep wish for revenge and the capacity for violence."
Addressing an international gathering of forensic psychotherapists at a conference entitled After Trauma - Within Families and Between Strangers, Alderdice explained how a dehumanisation of both the victims of terrorism and of the terrorists themselves occurred during violent conflict. "There is a denial in words and actions of the humanity of those who will suffer.
"This is a protective device which maintains the integrity of the self and removes the restrictions on permissibility of inhuman behaviour.
"This dehumanisation of the other, however, becomes infectious and paradoxical, they [the terrorists] can find themselves dehumanised by the process," he explained, giving the ongoing savage beatings and shootings within communities as an example of the dehumanisation process which continues in the North today.
Discussing the impact of group psychology in communities which dismiss law and order and develop their own methods of control, Alderdice said the number of young men committing suicide in the North was an example of the personal damage caused. He added that the communities themselves also suffered when ambulances got stoned and attacked by groups of young people.
"These are the symptoms of a community which has been very damaged and chaotic over a long period of time."
There was a time when therapists talked about how resilient people in Northern Ireland were, but Alderdice suggested that now therapists were beginning to realise the damage caused to individuals, communities and society at large.
"Over the last 10 years, people are recognising what an awfully damaging experience it has been and are beginning to think about the implications. For instance, the principle of respect needs to be taken on by all elements of the community because all elements of the community have felt disrespected.
"The idea that people respond violently to disrespect and humiliation should inform the whole way we work in education, healthcare, etc."
Discussing what model could be used to help individuals and communities heal following the years of violent conflict in the North, he said a lot more discussion would be required before a truth and reconciliation type commission could be decided upon.
"That we deal with the terrible damage that has been done to individuals and communities is crucial, otherwise it [ the violence] will be perpetuated," he told The Irish Times.
Non-governmental organisations such as the Glencree Reconciliation Centre in Co Wicklow are among those encouraging dialogue between people from different communities affected by The Troubles.
Jacinta de Paor, counselling psychologist at Glencree Reconciliation Centre, was a leader of a workshop discussing the work with victims and perpetrators of sectarian trauma at the weekend conference.
"The Live [ Let's Involve the Victims Experience] programme has been going for five years now and through it we establish a therapeutic environment in which victims can support one another by sharing their experiences. We also provide an opportunity for dialogue between victims and former combatants," she explained.
"For many of the participants, this is the first time they will have had a chance to tell their personal stories and feel understood. We find that it is healing for them to do so in the presence of those from opposing sides."
De Paor tells the story of a father whose son, a British Army soldier, had been killed.
He explained what the experience was like for him: "Before I came to Ireland, every Irish person was suspect to me. Since I've been here, I've found people like myself, people who have lost their children too. I got great comfort from talking with an Irish mother who'd also lost her son. What was remarkable about this for me was that her son had been killed by the British Army. As we talked I saw that our grief and loss was the same."
De Paor said: "Through such carefully supported dialogue, people find understanding and healing. They realise that their trauma, suffering and grief are the same and from our point of view, this helps the reconciliation between communities.
"A lot of preparation goes into setting up these meetings and a key is that they are not publicised.
"We have also found that former combatants are very open and they know that there is no political gain to be made from the meetings. It's important for them to be experienced as human beings rather than by the label of the organisation they belong to."
De Paor believes it is becoming safer now for people to tell their personal stories.
"For a long time, the political took precedence and the loyalty to communities prevented personal stories from being heard. There are still a lot of people being silenced and we hear reports from family members about others who are deeply troubled and are turning to alcohol or prescription drugs," she said.
"Trust is a huge issue in this work and when it is seen to be broken by any side, it takes a long time to be built up again. I'd say organisations like ours are reaching about one in 10 people who have been traumatised by The Troubles. George Mitchell said at the signing of the Good Friday agreement, 'now the work will start'. It's a very slow process and a longer road than people first thought."