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Inching toward Armageddon: a psychiatric view.

The existence of thermonuclear arsenals capable of destroying much of humanity takes its origins from, and has an influence on, processes that are largely psychological. The threat to use a single nuclear bomb to resolve contemporary conflict is an anathema in part because complex nation-states did...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Abraham, H. D.
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 1983
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2589715/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6636836
Descripción
Sumario:The existence of thermonuclear arsenals capable of destroying much of humanity takes its origins from, and has an influence on, processes that are largely psychological. The threat to use a single nuclear bomb to resolve contemporary conflict is an anathema in part because complex nation-states did not evolve with surviving a nuclear war in mind. The atomic arms race has proceeded apace because of maladaptive psychological mechanism including denial, distortion, projection, and, most relevantly, the need to enhance bonding within groups by creating stereotypes. One consequence of the arms race is a climate of fear and hopelessness, and especially destructive effect of which is seen in children. The physician's role in the prevention of nuclear war is critical, but divided between contradictory roles. On one hand, the physician is traditionally identified as a non-political advocate of the sick; on the other, as an advocate for the public health. It is this second model that enables physicians most legitimately to work for the prevention of nuclear war and to deal with the psychiatric concomitants of a planet drifting toward disaster.