[psych-hr] PsySR Response to Terrorist Attacks on US Landmarks

Dear list members,

Thanks to all of you who I know are already working hard in your
communities to help people cope, to reduce the tendency to react to
stereotypes, to keep working for peace and social justice.

In the interests of helping our communities, Psychologists for Social
Responsibility has issued the following statement for your use and further
distribution as you see fit.

We will also have it in a press release form soon, so if you want a faxed
copy, please contact Anne Anderson at psysrusa@cs.com.

All the best in this very difficult time,  Anne


Responses and Action Possibilities to Terrorist
Attacks on US Landmarks

     Psychologists for Social Responsibility has been contacted
by the media for help with how best to respond to the appalling
events of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001.

Our hearts go out to those who have lost their lives, their loved ones,
and the families and friends who will now have to face the difficult
grieving process.

     We condemn the use of violence against civilians and
resolve to continue our work to address the many issues
that often lead to the outbreak of such violence.

     Many people are experiencing shock, fear, anxiety, rage,
sadness, an increased sense of vulnerability, and other
powerful feelings, all of which make it very difficult for us humans
to think and to problem-solve effectively.  At this point it is
important to acknowledge how much we don't know.  We need to
avoid jumping to conclusions that may be erroneous.  Many
qualified and highly trained people are already working to find out
what happened and who the perpetrators are.  We need to give
the professionals a chance to do their work.

     We have been asked specifically about what to tell children.
Children of different ages need different levels of information.
Here are some general guidelines for young children:

1)  Check with your children to see how they feel.
Children often experience these events as concrete
and profoundly personal and emotional, and wonder if
harm would happen to them.  Adults can help by
placing the event in perspective.

2)  Keeping things as normal as possible for children is very
helpful to their feelings of security, so whenever possible,
provide them with regular children's activities.

3)  Children may respond to the anxieties felt and expressed
by their caregivers.  Talk with them about their feelings.
Tell them in simple language how you are feeling about the incident.
Reassure them that you are watching out for them.

4)  Shield children from in-depth discussion of how the
adults feel about these events (specifically the recounting
of traumatic stories that create vivid images in one's mind's
eye and vengeful fantasies of retaliation).

5)  Limit the amount of time children spend watching coverage
of the attacks.  Do not let them watch television coverage of
these disastrous events by themselves.  They need your adult
presence and perspective.

6)  What we do is often as important as what we say.  Pay
attention to your reactions because children will take their
cues from you.  Children often see far more than adults are
aware of.


Action Possibilities
(9/11/01)

     It is human to respond to traumatic events such as the
attacks on the US on September 11, 2001, with shock, numbness,
grief, confusion, and anger.  As practitioners of peace, we cannot
afford to become paralyzed at such times.  Below we mention a few
constructive actions that we can undertake ourselves, as well as
encourage for others:

       Take responsibility for our perceptions--do not act hastily on the
basis of stereotypes.  Suspend judgement until the facts are gathered.

     Write op-ed pieces or respond to call-in radio shows to inoculate
people against the tendency to take out their frustrations by threatening
or attacking 'foreigners' living in the United States.

       Offer to facilitate a discussion of the events at local churches,
synagogues, and community centers.

       Consider making yourself available to community groups, schools,
the media, etc. to help people express their feelings in a supportive
atmosphere.  For adults as well as children, creating space for grieving
and rituals that restore our collective sense of community and relative
safety in public places is vital .

       When others are discussing modes of retaliation, emphasize the
need to work even harder on the bases for long-lasting peace.  Give
more attention to preventive, peacebuilding measures, especially the
resolution of protracted conflicts we have around the world.

     Work for social justice.  In the long run, the best insurance
against ruthless human action is social justice for all.

     Encourage people to give blood at the Red Cross to meet the
demand that will obviously be created by the injuries at the Pentagon
and World Trade Center.  While blood banks may not be able to handle
an immediate influx of people, remember that the need continues.

     Reach out to people who might be alone and frightened.

Anne Anderson
National Coordinator
Psychologists for Social Responsibility
2604 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 745-7084
(202) 745-0051 fax
psysrusa@cs.com or psysripn@aol.com
www.psysr.com