How Empathic Are War Veterans? An Examination of the Psychological Impacts of Combat Exposure

Sandra P. Trujillo; Natalia Trujillo; Juan E. Ugarriza; Luz H. Uribe; David A. Pineda; Daniel C. Aguirre-Acevedo; Agustín Ibáñez; Jean Decety; Mauricio A. Garcia-Barrera

doi:10.1037/pac0000255

How Empathic Are War Veterans? An Examination of the Psychological Impacts of Combat Exposure

Sandra P. Trujillo, Natalia Trujillo, Juan E. Ugarriza, Luz H. Uribe, David A. Pineda, Daniel C. Aguirre-Acevedo, Agustín Ibáñez, Jean Decety, Mauricio A. Garcia-Barrera

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

How empathic are battle-experienced war veterans and demobilized ex-combatants? Individuals who have participated in war-related violence tend to show an increased risk of mental health problems, which makes their readaptation to postconflict civilian life much more difficult. This study is the first systematic attempt to evaluate whether war experiences are potentially related to empathic deficit among veterans. Based on a sample of 624 demobilized ex-guerrillas and ex-paramilitaries from the Colombian armed conflict, we identify 3 clearly distinct empathic profiles, suggesting that, while lack of empathy is not generalized among ex-combatants, there is an important subgroup of veterans who present such a dispositional profile. Identification of this critical subgroup will be crucial to policies aimed at assisting postconflict reintegration efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	422-426
Number of pages	4
Journal	Peace and Conflict
Volume	23
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000255
State	Published - Oct 23 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Political Science and International Relations

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1037/pac0000255

Cite this

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abstract = "How empathic are battle-experienced war veterans and demobilized ex-combatants? Individuals who have participated in war-related violence tend to show an increased risk of mental health problems, which makes their readaptation to postconflict civilian life much more difficult. This study is the first systematic attempt to evaluate whether war experiences are potentially related to empathic deficit among veterans. Based on a sample of 624 demobilized ex-guerrillas and ex-paramilitaries from the Colombian armed conflict, we identify 3 clearly distinct empathic profiles, suggesting that, while lack of empathy is not generalized among ex-combatants, there is an important subgroup of veterans who present such a dispositional profile. Identification of this critical subgroup will be crucial to policies aimed at assisting postconflict reintegration efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record",

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AU - Trujillo, Sandra P.

AU - Trujillo, Natalia

AU - Ugarriza, Juan E.

AU - Uribe, Luz H.

AU - Pineda, David A.

AU - Aguirre-Acevedo, Daniel C.

AU - Ibáñez, Agustín

AU - Decety, Jean

AU - Garcia-Barrera, Mauricio A.

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AB - How empathic are battle-experienced war veterans and demobilized ex-combatants? Individuals who have participated in war-related violence tend to show an increased risk of mental health problems, which makes their readaptation to postconflict civilian life much more difficult. This study is the first systematic attempt to evaluate whether war experiences are potentially related to empathic deficit among veterans. Based on a sample of 624 demobilized ex-guerrillas and ex-paramilitaries from the Colombian armed conflict, we identify 3 clearly distinct empathic profiles, suggesting that, while lack of empathy is not generalized among ex-combatants, there is an important subgroup of veterans who present such a dispositional profile. Identification of this critical subgroup will be crucial to policies aimed at assisting postconflict reintegration efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record

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How Empathic Are War Veterans? An Examination of the Psychological Impacts of Combat Exposure

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

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