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Explosive anger as a response to human rights violations in post-conflict Timor-Leste

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Listed:
  • Silove, Derrick
  • Brooks, Robert
  • Bateman Steel, Catherine Robina
  • Steel, Zachary
  • Hewage, Kalhari
  • Rodger, James
  • Soosay, Ian

Abstract

Over several decades, clinicians have documented a pattern of explosive anger amongst survivors of gross human rights violations. Yet there is a dearth of epidemiological research investigating explosive anger in post-conflict countries. In the present study undertaken in Timor-Leste between March and November 2004, we identified an indigenous descriptor for explosive anger, including this index in the East Timor Mental Health Epidemiological Needs Study, a small area total population survey of 1544 adults living in an urban and a rural area. Other measures included indices of past trauma events, post-traumatic stress and general psychological distress, and socio-demographic variables. We found that 38% of the population reached the defined threshold of one attack of explosive anger a month (average = 1 episode every 2-3 days). Only a minority of persons with explosive anger reached threshold scores for post-traumatic stress and general psychological distress. High levels of trauma exposure represented the strongest predictor of explosive anger. Latent class analysis identified three sub-groups with explosive anger: young trauma-affected adults living in the capital city who were unemployed; an older group, predominantly men, who had experienced extensive violence, including combat, assault and torture; and a less well characterized group of women. The findings offer support for a sequential model of explosive anger in which experiences of past persecution are compounded by frustrations in the post-conflict environment. The data provide a foundation for exploring further the role of trauma-induced anger in the cycles of violence that are prevalent in post-conflict countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Silove, Derrick & Brooks, Robert & Bateman Steel, Catherine Robina & Steel, Zachary & Hewage, Kalhari & Rodger, James & Soosay, Ian, 2009. "Explosive anger as a response to human rights violations in post-conflict Timor-Leste," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(5), pages 670-677, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:69:y:2009:i:5:p:670-677
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pedersen, Duncan & Tremblay, Jacques & Errázuriz, Consuelo & Gamarra, Jeffrey, 2008. "The sequelae of political violence: Assessing trauma, suffering and dislocation in the Peruvian highlands," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 205-217, July.
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    1. Susan Rees & Derrick Silove & Teresa Verdial & Natalino Tam & Elisa Savio & Zulmira Fonseca & Rosamund Thorpe & Belinda Liddell & Anthony Zwi & Kuowei Tay & Robert Brooks & Zachary Steel, 2013. "Intermittent Explosive Disorder amongst Women in Conflict Affected Timor-Leste: Associations with Human Rights Trauma, Ongoing Violence, Poverty, and Injustice," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(8), pages 1-7, August.
    2. Alvin Kuowei Tay & Susan J. Rees & Natalino Tam & Elisa Savio & Zelia Maria Da Costa & Derrick Silove, 2017. "The Role of Trauma-Related Injustice in Pathways to Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Conjugal Couples: A Multilevel, Dyadic Analysis in Postconflict Timor-Leste," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(3), pages 21582440177, August.
    3. Rees, Susan & Silove, Derrick, 2011. "Sakit Hati: A state of chronic mental distress related to resentment and anger amongst West Papuan refugees exposed to persecution," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 103-110, July.
    4. Rees, Susan & Thorpe, Rosamund & Tol, Wietse & Fonseca, Mira & Silove, Derrick, 2015. "Testing a cycle of family violence model in conflict-affected, low-income countries: A qualitative study from Timor-Leste," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 284-291.
    5. Priebe, Stefan & Bogic, Marija & Ashcroft, Richard & Franciskovic, Tanja & Galeazzi, Gian Maria & Kucukalic, Abdulah & Lecic-Tosevski, Dusica & Morina, Nexhmedin & Popovski, Mihajlo & Roughton, Michae, 2010. "Experience of human rights violations and subsequent mental disorders - A study following the war in the Balkans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(12), pages 2170-2177, December.
    6. Rasmussen, Andrew & Keatley, Eva & Joscelyne, Amy, 2014. "Posttraumatic stress in emergency settings outside North America and Europe: A review of the emic literature," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 44-54.

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