Transitional Justice Systems, Psychology and

Abstract

Abstract In order to understand the relationship between psychology and transitional justice mechanisms, we address what psychology is as a discipline and how it is capable of contributing to mechanisms of transitional justice. Psychology as an academic field of inquiry has taken many forms, as demarcated by divisions within the field such as cognitive, developmental, clinical, social, and political psychology, to name a few. These subfields tend to highlight the different frameworks and theories utilized to study and understand human cognition and behavior at both the individual and group level. However, peace psychology attempts to bridge the separation between these subfields by focusing on the understanding and prevention of conflict (often referred to as peacemaking) and the promotion of nonviolent initiatives seeking social justice (referred to as peacebuilding) (Christie, Wagner, & Winter, 2001). By having these specific goals in mind, peace psychology is able to draw from the different theories and methods proposed by the subfields (along with other disciplines such as philosophy, political science, and anthropology), resulting in the potential collaboration of scholars that often are bound to their specific discipline or area of expertise. In addition to examining why conflict happens and how it can be prevented or resolved, peace psychology expands the aim of psychology to be not only a field of academic and theoretical inquiry, but also a source for social change and justice. The role of psychology in transitional justice systems is to provide an understanding of particular psychological processes that can assist in the development and implementation of effective transitional justice mechanisms.