WOUNDS AT THE HEART OF SOCIETY: THE PROFOUND EFFECTS OF WAR

Wars are events that lead to quite complex effects that deeply affect people and societies. When examined from a psychological and sociological point of view, the impact of wars on human behavior, emotional states, and social structures is quite large. In this article, the effects of war on human and social psychology will be examined.

The Social Effects of War

Wars have a direct and profound impact on the social and economic structures of societies. One of the most obvious effects of wars on societies is the losses that occur due to war. These losses carry a great burden emotionally and psychologically. Families suffer through the loss of loved ones, which affects the mood of the community. Wars also have an impact on social hierarchy and power dynamics. The winners and losers of the war can be ranked at the top or bottom of society. This determines the social class differences. For example, people on the losing side of the war may experience a social decline. This can trigger social unrest and even revolutions.

Psychological Effects of War

“The reality of psychological trauma has once again challenged public consciousness with the devastation of World War I. Over eight million people have died in four years in this long war of attrition. By the time the massacre ended, four European empires had been destroyed and many of the creeds on which Western civilization was based had been shattered.” There was also an individual psychological dimension to the destruction experienced especially after World War I. According to the traditional understanding, a soldier, that is, a man, should be proud of the war and should not have any emotional reactions. Through this understanding, discourses were made about soldiers who experienced traumatic neurosis after World War I in the form of “men who show feminine and passive homosexual tendencies”. There are claims that the symptoms of post-war mental Decay were ignored by attributing them to physical causes. This kind of ignored brutality of soldiers who have been exposed to the brutality of war can also be seen as a separate traumatic phenomenon for that period after the war. Fortunately, in the following years, after the post-war processes, steps have been taken to explain the causes of war-related psychopathology.

As a direct result of the war, stress disorders as a result of trauma are common among soldiers and the civilian population. The violence of war, the threat of death, the loss of friends, and other traumatic experiences can seriously affect a person's mental health. Symptoms include recurring nightmares, sudden episodes of fear, a constant feeling of danger, and constant reenactment of traumatic memories in the mind. Traumatic experiences during or after the war can trigger deep depression in people. The devastating effects of war can lead people to lose motivation for life and despair. The constant danger and uncertainty of war can create a constant feeling of anxiety in people. This can lead to anxiety disorders and negatively affect people's daily lives. The intense violence of war can cause soldiers and civilians to experience anger and violence control problems. This can lead to social problems such as domestic violence. As a result of war experiences, people may feel lonely. They may also be separated from their communities, which can lead to social isolation. War can affect children in a particularly traumatic way. The violence experienced during the war can lead to psychological problems such as nightmares, anxiety, and fear in children. It should also be remembered that war can hinder children's educational opportunities. After the war, it can be difficult for people affected to reintegrate into their communities. This can lead to post-traumatic community integration problems. After the war, it can be difficult for people affected to reintegrate into their communities. Post-war community integration problems can prevent people from processing their traumatic experiences and adapting to their societies.

The psychological effects of war can vary depending on the experiences of individuals, personal resilience, and social support systems. Therefore, psychological help and support are important to cope with the psychological effects of war. In addition, preventing war and providing social support after war can help reduce the psychological effects of war.