Final Topic:
Negative and Positive Peace
In peace psychology, positive peace and negative peace are two key concepts that describe
different states of peace:
Negative Peace
• Definition: The absence of direct violence or war.
• Focus: Stopping physical conflict (e.g., ceasefires, treaties).
• Example: A country ending a civil war but still facing discrimination, poverty, or political
oppression.
• Think: "No war, but not necessarily justice."
Coined by Johan Galtung, negative peace is like putting a bandage on a wound—it's a start,
but the deeper issues may remain.
Positive Peace
• Definition: The presence of justice, equality, and harmonious relationships in addition
to the absence of violence.
• Focus: Addressing the root causes of conflict—social, economic, and political systems that
promote fairness and well-being.
• Example: A society with equal rights, access to education and healthcare, and inclusive
governance.
• Think: "Peace with justice and equity."
Positive peace is more holistic—it's about creating systems and cultures that prevent violence
from arising in the first place.
The Psychology of Peacemaking in Peace Psychology
Definition:
Peacemaking refers to the active process of resolving conflict and rebuilding relationships
between opposing groups or individuals. It aims to transform hostility into cooperation and lay
the foundation for positive peace.
Psychological Principles Involved:
1. Empathy & Perspective-Taking
o Understanding the feelings, needs, and viewpoints of the "other side."
o Reduces dehumanization and builds common ground.
2. Communication Skills
o Encouraging open dialogue and active listening.
o Promotes understanding and breaks down stereotypes.
3. Conflict Resolution Strategies
o Mediation, negotiation, and problem-solving techniques.
o Focuses on win-win outcomes rather than domination.
4. Trauma Healing & Forgiveness
o Addresses the emotional pain caused by conflict.
o Encourages letting go of resentment to enable reconciliation.
5. Identity & Group Dynamics
o Understanding in-group/out-group bias and social identity theory.
o Helps reduce intergroup prejudice and improve relations.
Goal: Long-term reconciliation, justice, and sustainable peace.
The Psychology of Peacekeeping in Peace Psychology:
Definition:
Peacekeeping is the effort to maintain peace and prevent violence from reigniting, often
through external monitoring, control, or separation of parties after conflict.
Psychological Principles Involved:
1. Trust-Building
o Peacekeepers must gain the trust of local populations and combatants.
o Requires impartiality, consistency, and cultural respect.
2. Behavioral Regulation
o Reducing aggressive behavior and emotional arousal in tense situations.
o Often involves presence as a deterrent to violence.
3. Fear and Threat Reduction
o Managing perceptions of threat that could escalate into renewed violence.
o Encourages a sense of safety and control.
4. Stress and Trauma Awareness
o Peacekeepers often operate in high-stress zones.
o Psychological resilience and coping strategies are essential.
5. Cultural Sensitivity
o Misunderstanding norms can reignite tensions.
o Psychological preparation includes cross-cultural training.
Goal: Stabilize environments and maintain negative peace (no violence
Next topic : PEACE BUILDING
• in peace psychology, peacebuilding refers to the processes and strategies
aimed at creating lasting peace by addressing the root causes of conflict and
promoting conditions that prevent violence.
• It is broader than just ending violence (which is peacekeeping);
peacebuilding focuses on long-term structural and relational changes needed
for sustainable peace.
interpersonal psychological strategies for peacemaking/building:
In peace psychology, interpersonal psychological strategies for peacemaking
and peacebuilding focus on how individuals can directly improve relationships,
reduce conflict, and promote lasting peace through psychological processes.
Interpersonal strategies:
Active Listening and Empathic Communication
What it is: Deeply listening to others with the goal of understanding, not judging
or immediately responding.
Why it matters: It helps reduce misunderstandings, lowers emotional tension, and
shows respect, which can rebuild trust.
Perspective-Taking:
What it is: Consciously trying to see the situation from the other
person's point of view.
• Example of perspective-taking "Teaching Students To Be
Peacemakers" program developed by psychologist David W.
Johnson. This initiative trains students in conflict resolution by
encouraging them to adopt the perspectives of others, thereby
fostering empathy and understanding. By engaging in role-reversal
exercises, students learn to view conflicts from multiple
viewpoints, which can reduce prejudice and promote cooperative
problem-solving
Nonviolent Communication (NVC):
• Developed by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg.
• Nonviolent Communication (NVC) It's designed to help people
express themselves honestly and clearly, while also listening to
others with empathy, even in situations of conflict.
• Key elements:
• Observations (without judgment)
• Feelings (express your emotional state)
• Needs (identify underlying needs)
• Requests (make clear, respectful requests)
Example:
• In a community dialogue between two ethnic groups with a history
of tension, a facilitator encourages participants to use the
Nonviolent Communication framework developed by Marshall
Rosenberg.
• When one participant feels anger over past injustices, instead of
accusing the other group ("You people always oppress us!"), they
are guided to use NVC:
• Observation: "When I see that our community was not included in
the new town council..."
• Feeling: "I feel hurt and frustrated..."
• Need: "Because I need to feel respected and have an equal
voice..."
• Request: "Would you be willing to discuss ways we can be fairly
represented in future decisions?"
Self-Regulation:
• Developing the ability to manage your own emotions, especially
anger and frustration, can prevent escalating conflicts.
• Example:
Two parties having a big argument. One of them feels very angry
and wants to shout or say something mean. But instead, they take
a deep breath, stay quiet for a moment, and calm themselves
down.
Then, when they feel more in control, they say: "I’m really upset
right now. Can we talk about this calmly?"
By controlling their anger and not reacting badly, they help to
fix the peace instead of making the fight worse
Apology And Forgiveness:
• In peace psychology, apology and forgiveness are important tools
for healing broken relationships — whether between individuals,
groups, or even nations. They help reduce anger, rebuild trust, and
open the door to peaceful coexistence.
• Apology Practice
• In peacemaking, an apology is not just saying "I'm sorry." It
means:
• Acknowledging the harm caused
• Showing real regret (not just saying it to avoid blame)
• Accepting responsibility without making excuses
• Offering to make things right if possible
Example:
• After a violent conflict between two communities, a leader says
publicly:
"We deeply regret the harm our actions caused. We take
responsibility for the pain inflicted and are committed to working
toward real healing and justice."
Forgiveness Practice:
• Forgiveness in peace psychology means:
• Recognizing the wrong but not letting it control the future
• Rebuilding relationships when possible, but also setting healthy
boundaries if needed
• Example:
A survivor of violence may say:
"I do not forget what happened, but I choose to forgive so that I
can move forward and help build peace."
• Forgiveness is a gift mainly to oneself — it frees people from
being stuck in anger.
Role OF PSYCHOLOGIST IN PEACEBUILDING
• Psychologists play a crucial role in peace building by addressing
the psychological roots of conflict and violence, promoting
nonviolent conflict resolution, and supporting individuals and
communities affected by conflict.
Their skills are used at multiple levels—from individual healing to
community transformation to structural change
Role of psychologist:
• Trauma Healing and Psychological Support
Psychologists provide essential mental health services to
individuals and communities affected by conflict or violence. This
includes trauma counseling, grief support, and helping people
process their experiences
Example:
• After the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, millions of people were
affected by the violence, losing family members and experiencing
horrific events. To rebuild the nation and promote peace,
psychologists played a critical role in trauma healing and
psychological support.
Community Healing Circles:
Psychologists helped create community healing spaces where
survivors could share their stories in a safe, supportive
environment
Individual Counseling:
• Individual Counseling:
For those deeply affected, psychologists offered one-on-one
counseling to help individuals cope with PTSD (Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder), anxiety, and depression.
• Trauma-Informed Care in Schools:
Psychologists trained teachers to recognize signs of trauma in
children and provide emotional support within schools. This
created a safe environment where children could learn while
beginning their recovery journey.
Addressing Collective Trauma;
• Addressing Collective Trauma
• Psychologists work with entire communities that have experienced
collective trauma (e.g., genocide, war). They design programs to
promote collective healing and address intergenerational trauma.
• After decades of racial oppression, South Africa faced collective
trauma — widespread emotional wounds affecting whole
communities. To heal and build peace, psychologists worked
alongside other leaders during the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC).
Psychologists' Roles:
• Supporting Public Testimonies:
Survivors of violence shared their painful stories publicly.
Psychologists prepared survivors emotionally for sharing their
trauma and provided support during and after the testimonies to
prevent re-traumatization.
• Providing Emotional First Aid: During hearings, psychologists
were present to help participants who became overwhelmed with
grief, anger, or anxiety.
• Community Healing Programs: Psychologists organized group
therapy sessions and community dialogues to help whole
communities process feelings of grief, guilt, and anger together.
Promoting Peace Education and Social Change:
• Role: Psychologists develop educational programs that teach
conflict resolution, nonviolence, empathy, and cooperation. These
programs are often introduced in schools, community centers, and
through media.
• Example:
After the Bosnian War (1992–1995), many children grew up
surrounded by mistrust, prejudice, and trauma. Psychologists
realized that for real peace to last, the next generation needed to
learn peaceful ways of thinking, feeling, and acting — not hatred
Psychologists' Role in Promoting Peace Education and Social
Change:
• Creating Peace Education Curricula:
Psychologists helped design school programs that taught
students about empathy, human rights, conflict resolution, and
respect for diversity.
• Training Teachers:
They trained teachers to use peaceful communication and
emotional support strategies in classrooms, making schools safer
and more nurturing.
Research and Advocacy:
• In peace psychology, research helps us understand the causes
of violence, conflict, and peace — while advocacy uses that
knowledge to push for changes that make societies fairer, safer,
and more peaceful.
Role: Psychologists conduct research on the causes of conflict,
peacebuilding strategies, and the impacts of violence on
individuals and societies. They use this data to advocate for
policies that promote peace and address psychological needs.
• Example:
• After studying the effects of war trauma on children, peace
psychologists publish research showing that early psychological
support reduces later violence.
Then, they advocate to governments and international agencies to
fund mental health services in refugee camps and post-conflict
areas.
NEXT TOPIC ; RECONCILATION AND ISSSUES OF
FORGIVENESS
INTRODUCTION;
• Forgiveness and reconciliation can occur in every sphere of human
experience, including individual, community, national, and trans-
national levels.
• In any discussion about forgiveness and reconciliation, it is
important to make a distinction between the two before analyzing
each of them in greater detail. On the one hand, forgiveness does
not necessarily mean reconciling with the wrongdoer. There may
be good reasons why you do not wish to reconcile. Reconciliation
is an additional choice. On the other hand, it is nearly impossible to
reconcile with someone you have not gone some way to forgive.
Forgiveness:
• Forgiveness is both a process and a choice, and may be both
intrapersonal and interpersonal. It is a complex and enigmatic
concept, hard to pin down because it can apply in different ways to
different situations; not everyone experiences it in the same
manner. For some, it may result in reducing a personal hurt that
makes life easier; for others, it may mean reconciling with an
enemy and being able to live side by side again.
What do we mean by forgiveness and reconciliation?
• Forgiveness
• Definition
• Forgiveness is the principled decision to give up your justified right for revenge; it also
requires the forgiver to recognize that the offender is “human like myself.”
• Categories:
• Unilateral forgiveness: This requires nothing in return. It is an act of generosity on the
part of the victim(s). There can be many different motives; for instance, it may stem
from compassion for an offender, the wish to free oneself from pain, or simply a
pragmatic means of moving forward.
while BILATERAL FORGIVENESS involves a mutual exchange, often with an apology or
show of remorse. bilateral forgiveness depends on the wrongdoer's willingness to
acknowledge the harm and seek reconciliation.
Reconciliation:
• Reconciliation in the context of community building assumes a need, a will,
or an actual effort made on the part of an individual or a group of people to
live side-by-side in peace with a person or another group they had
considered to be their adversaries in the past.
There may be pragmatic reasons for communities to make a conscious decision not
to seek to punish or retaliate. This is a form of “pardoning,” which may lead to
reconciliation but is different from forgiveness. Just as a victim may forgive a
perpetrator serving a prison sentence but still see the necessity for them to be
incarcerated, equally a victim may still feel resentment towards a perpetrator but
see the practical sense of not doing anything about it in order to end a cycle of
violence.
Definition
• Reconciliation refers to the restoration of fractured relationships by
overcoming grief, pain, and anger. It is, as Karen Broenus has written, “a
societal process that involves mutual acknowledgment of past suffering and
the changing of destructive attitudes and behavior into constructive
relationships toward sustainable peace.”
five-step process:
Reconciliation can be seen as a five-step process, including:
• Developing a shared vision of an interdependent and fair society
• Acknowledging and dealing with the past
• Building positive relationships
• Facilitating significant cultural and attitudinal change
• Enabling substantial social, economic, and political change
What is the importance of forgiveness for Community Building?
• Forgiveness can bring new insights
• Forgiveness can help transform attitudes
• Forgiveness can help repair broken relationships
• Forgiveness can help break the cycle of violence
Individuals choose forgiveness for a number of reasons in times of hurt and
trauma. In his book Unattended Sorrow, Stephen Levine writes that when trauma
disturbs our future, deeper psychological wounds may persist; and “Long after the
shrapnel is removed, the inner war continues” (Levine, 2005).
Forgiveness Can Bring New Insights
• A first step in community building is recognizing that we are all capable of
harm, given the right circumstances. The Russian author and dissident
Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote in The Gulag Archipelago: “If only there
were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were
necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the
line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.
And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?
Case Example: Bosnia
• When Kemal Pervanic, a survivor of the notorious Omarska concentration
camp in Bosnia, returned to Bosnia some years after the end of the war, he
recognized the cruellest of his former Serb camp guards standing by the road
hitch-hiking. The image caused Pervanic to react in way that might seem
surprising – he started to laugh. “What else could I do?” he explains. “I
didn’t want to swear or scream or get violent. I laughed because I
remembered the monster this man had been. But now, hitch-hiking alone on
a dusty road, he looked almost pitiful. People describe these people as
monsters, born with a genetically mutant gene, but I don’t believe that. I
believe every human being is capable of killing.”
Forgiveness Can Help Transform Attitudes
• Forgiveness and reconciliation in this context are therefore about shifting
and even transforming people’s attitudes, prejudices, and perceptions about
the “other.”
• this is well demonstrated in the case of Palestinian Bassam Aramin, and
Israeli Rami Elhanan, who both lost young daughters in the Israel-Palestine
conflict. As Bassam says in the film about his and Rami’s life, Within the
Eye of the Storm: “If you want to change others, first you have to change
yourself.”
Rami Elhanan describes the suicide bomber who killed his daughter as a
“victim, just like my daughter, grown crazy out of anger and shame.” He
also reflects, “When this happened to my daughter I had to ask myself
whether I’d contributed in any way. The answer was that I had – my people
had, for ruling, dominating and oppressing three-and-a-half million
Palestinians for 35 years.
Forgiveness Can Help Repair Broken Relationships
• Another way forgiveness and reconciliation promote community building is
that they allow people who were once hostile towards one another to live
together again. Forgiving past wrongs may be a key to reconciliation
between friends, family members, spouses, neighbors, races, cultures, and
nations.
Case Example: Senegal
• Salimata Badji-Knight was brought up in a Muslim community in Senegal,
where she was circumcised at the age of five. “Today my three sisters work
with me to stop the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). Even my
mother now understands that it’s a violation of human rights and has told me
that she had never wanted to put me through FGM and had done everything
in her power to protect me. Hearing this made me happy, as it created a
closer relationship between the two of us and I no longer blame her for what
happened to me.
In addition, before he died, I was able to have a good talk with my father. I
opened my heart to him and explained how female circumcision could affect
you physically and mentally. He cried and said that no woman had ever
explained the suffering to him. Then he apologized and asked for
forgiveness. The next day he called my relatives in Senegal and told them to
stop the practice. As a result, a meeting was cancelled and 50 girls were
saved
Forgiveness Can Help Break the Cycle of Violence
Case Example: Lebanon
• Finally, forgiveness can help end violence. “It is the responsibility of the
living to heal the dead.” Alexandra Asseily.
Asseily has described the deep ancestral connection she felt with the “agony
of war,” which manifested in her own life during the civil war in Lebanon
between 1975 and 1990. She has spoken about the horror of seeing her good
Christian friends destroying everything she had worked for with their
Muslim neighbors. “I saw grievances being played out that went back to the
Crusades,” she said, explaining why she would not wear a cross for 20 years.
“It was after I came to London that I tried to make sense of my life and
started to ask the question, ‘What is it that makes me at the same time
human and inhuman?’
Example:
• This passage is about a woman named Asseily, who lived through the
Lebanese civil war from 1975 to 1990. During that time, she saw her
Christian friends destroy the peaceful life she had built with her Muslim
neighbors. It was shocking and painful for her because people who used to
be friends turned against each other due to old religious and historical
conflicts — even ones as far back as the Crusades (a series of religious wars
from centuries ago).
Because of this deep pain and confusion, she stopped wearing a cross (a Christian
symbol) for 20 years. Later, after moving to London, she started thinking more
deeply about her experiences and asked herself a powerful question: “What makes
me both human and inhuman?” In other words, she was trying to understand why
people — including herself — are capable of both kindness and cruelty
What Are Favorable Conditions for Forgiveness and Reconciliation in
Community Building?
There are three in particular:
• In post-conflict situations (i.e., not being in the midst of active conflict)
• In peace-building
• When the law is inadequate
• In Post-conflict Situations
Forgiveness can help bring peace between two sides in a conflict. But during times
of violence, it might not be the right time to talk about it. Some people find the
idea of forgiveness upsetting, especially when they’re still in danger or fighting to
survive. In those moments, asking them to forgive can seem insensitive and may
even make things worse.
In Peace-building
• Forgiveness can play a big role in healing relationships and fixing hurt
communities. It's often a key step in creating peace, and sometimes the only
way for divided groups to come back together. When pain and trauma are
left unhealed, they can lead people to see each other as less than human.
Both sides might be afraid that treating the other as equal could put them in
danger. That fear can keep conflict going. But powerful actions like showing
empathy, choosing to forgive, and working toward peace can help break that
cycle.
When the Law is Inadequate
• Forgiveness can be especially helpful when the legal system hasn’t been able
to fairly punish wrongdoers. Justice usually depends on people trusting that
there’s a fair authority in charge — but if that authority is missing or not
trusted, then who can make things right?
In South Africa, leaders sought to attend to the hurt of injustice and the
trauma of the past through formation of a Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, as noted below.
Case Example: South Africa
• TRUTH AND RECONCILATION COMMISSION TRC
Amy Biehl, an American student working in South Africa against apartheid,
was stabbed to death in a Black township near Cape Town. In 1998, the four
young men convicted of her murder were granted amnesty by the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission (TRC) after serving five years of their sentence
– a decision supported by Amy’s parents.
