The political consequences of trauma

Usry, Kaye Candler

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/100985 Copy

Description

Title

The political consequences of trauma

Author(s)

Usry, Kaye Candler

Issue Date

2018-04-17

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Althaus, Scott

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Althaus, Scott

Committee Member(s)

• Kuklinski, James
• Wong, Cara
• Canache, Damarys

Department of Study

Political Science

Discipline

Political Science

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Political socialization
• Political behavior
• Political trust
• Trauma
• Military combat
• Adverse childhood experiences
• Intimate partner violence

Abstract

Traumatic life experiences can have profound and lasting effects on survivors’ brains, bodies, and minds. Although a handful of studies have considered the consequences of major events like wars, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters for political behavior, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how and why trauma affects one’s orientations toward government and their engagement with politics. This dissertation provides a framework for understanding the relationship between trauma and political attitudes and behavior, building on existing research about the psychological impact of trauma. Traumas that involve elements of betrayal from someone known to the victim have especially deleterious effects on their psychological and physical well-being. Using multiple data sources, I examine the political consequences of three traumas: military combat experience (Chapter 2), childhood maltreatment (Chapter 3), and intimate partner violence (Chapter 4). I find that each of these traumas is associated with reduced political trust, political efficacy, and engagement.

Graduation Semester

2018-05

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/100985

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2018 Kaye Usry

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