Violent extremism has a trauma problem. Psychological trauma plays a role in the genesis, perpetration, and resolution of violent extremism. Despite evidence attesting to the positive effects of trauma-informed rehabilitation programs and trauma recovery support for armed combatants and criminal offenders, there has been limited donor interest or coordinated policy effort to meaningfully integrate trauma recovery into the design of rehabilitation and reintegration of violent extremists specifically. Research in global mental health confirms trauma is not only relevant to the emergence of violent extremism but is also a consequence of participation in violent extremism. While there is a general dearth of data on the psychobiological markers of trauma among extremist populations specifically, the limited data we have from child recruits, as well as from other conflict-affected populations calls for a more prominent role of psychological rehabilitation and trauma recovery in the reintegration of violent extremists.

 

Suggested citation:

Niconchuk, Michael. Whose Vulnerability? Trauma Recovery in the Reintegration of Former Violent Extremists. Washington, D.C.: RESOLVE Network, 2021. https://doi.org/10.37805/pn2021.16.vedr.