Peace, Conflict and Human-Rights Psychology (also established as Peace Psychology, APA Division 48) is the specialized scientific discipline dedicated to the generation of psychological theories and practices aimed at the prevention and mitigation of direct, structural, and cultural violence, and the promotion of social justice, reconciliation, and sustainable human rights. Anchored in Johan Galtung’s foundational distinction between Negative Peace (the mere cessation of active armed hostility) and Positive Peace (the systematic restoration of human rights, equitable resource access, and structural justice), the discipline addresses deep-rooted social conflict. Core paradigms include Herbert Kelman’s Interactive Problem-Solving workshops, Ervin Staub’s psychology of mass atrocities and genocide prevention, transitional justice psycho-legal frameworks (Truth and Reconciliation Commissions), and Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.’s psychology of active nonviolent resistance. The Peace, Conflict and Human-Rights Psychology Psychoeducation Module delivers 14 comprehensive video lessons exploring de-escalation of intergroup hatred, collective trauma reconciliation, structural inequality, and human rights advocacy.
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Johan Galtung’s Violence & Peace Framework
| Violence Dimension | Systemic Manifestation | Peace Psychology Remediation Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Violence | Physical bodily harm, warfare, armed assault, lynching, torture. | Ceasefire negotiation, peacekeeping demobilization, trauma-informed crisis response (Negative Peace). |
| Structural Violence | Systemic oppression embedded in laws, caste barriers, apartheid, extreme poverty, and institutional discrimination. | Human rights advocacy, legal reform, redistribution of health and educational resources (Positive Peace). |
| Cultural Violence | Religious narratives, folklore, and supremacist ideologies justifying direct and structural oppression. | Critical historical literacy, peace curricula, dismantling dehumanizing rhetoric, narrative restructuring. |
Ervin Staub’s Continuum of Destruction & Active Bystandership
Mass violence does not erupt overnight; it evolves along a “continuum of destruction” where minor discriminations gradually normalize dehumanization. Preventing atrocities requires empowering Active Bystanders who intervene early before societal cruelty becomes institutionalized.
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