Healing systems: A multi-level social psychological model of trauma in Guatemala

Although there is an extensive body of literature on trauma at the individual level, these efforts are insufficient to understand the pervasive psychosocial impact of war at the communal level. Current models of trauma are inadequate because they individualize, pathologize, and decontextualize this phenomenon. This exploratory study addressed the gap in social science research by offering a definition of the construct communal trauma. Through examining the inter-related effects of overt and structural violence on two post-conflict communities this investigation broadened current psychosocial understandings of war's consequences to include: an examination of multilevel social processes linking individual and communal attitudes and behavior; historical contexts that foment war; cultural realities; and, coping responses.;This study specifically explored two aspects of communities: systems (leadership, education, and health care) and affective components of collective culture. Using a methodological approach informed by grounded theory research, two rural Guatemalan communities highly affected by war were examined. More than 60 interviews were conducted over three increasingly focused phases of data collection. The research sample included international and national community development specialists, community leaders, health care providers, educators, and human rights representatives. These data were coded and analyzed for emergent themes, which were then clustered to form a definition of communal trauma.;This multi-level definition suggests that communal trauma is a condition that results from the experience of overt and structural violence (i.e., violence and poverty) and is distinguished by necessary features of three primary dimensions: an environment of systemic dysfunction and chaos; embedded frozen social discourses relating to perceived lack of choice/control; and, individuals' survival orientation. Further, a model was built specifying the pattern of relations that paradoxically result from and sustain communal trauma in Guatemala. Ultimately, these dynamics serve to maintain the marginalization of indigenous communities by reinforcing their real and perceived lack of access to choices and power. Organic resilient responses also emerged from the data, which can challenge the status quo by changing communities' sense of their own agency and power. Contributions to theory and practice as well as limitations and avenues for future research are discussed.