What is it about?
Victims of very serious crimes committed in wars very often suffer from trauma and other mental health problems as a result of the extreme violence they endured. Also eye-witnesses and perpetrators may face the negative psychological impact of the grave crimes they witnessed or were involved in. Professionals working closely with victims and witnesses may suffer from the 'contagious' effect of trauma. Listening to harrowing stories and engaging closely with victims and witnesses can lead to mental health impacts which resemble the symptoms of trauma or lead to burnout or other problems. The chapter explores how psychologists handle the risk for secondary trauma and explains how other professionals can protect their well-being.
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Why is it important?
Much of the literature on mass violence focuses on victims, perpetrators and justice mechanisms. This chapter highlights the impact of working with victims and witnesses on psychologists and other professionals. This is important as it reminds us that documenting and responding to extreme violence is not neutral work. It affects those who listen, assist or advocate. The chapter provides a theoretical framework to understand the emotional impact of this work and offers a road map to address its impact and to prevent harm, based on the methodology psychologists use to protect themselves.
Perspectives
This chapter is written from a very personal perspective and the book "Emotions, Ethics and Mass Atrocities" is very important because of this approach. It was a pleasure to contribute to this publication, alongside esteemed academics and practitioners working on the impact of atrocities and mass violence, who all reflect on their emotions and ethical implications of their work.
An Michels
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Toll it Takes: Working with and for Survivors and Eye-Witnesses of Atrocity Crimes, April 2026, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004754720_010.
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