Different societies have different ways through which traumatic experiences are handled. This shapes their identity. This chapter will use Eric Berne's psychotherapist transactional analysis theory to emphasize how people relate to one another and establish the extent communications influences human behaviours. The author indicates how the theory underscores societies' and individuals' representations of violent conduct by examining the traumatic experiences of some societies like the Yukpa people and the Jews during and after the Holocaust. Thematic areas will include identity and violence, trauma of war, and group construction of violence, among others. All of these themes are interconnected. Finally, the relevance of this work is to minimize interpersonal and organizational conflicts as well as promote tolerance of divergent views.
TopIdentity And Violence
Identity and violence are inseparable in either high or low context cultures (Appiah-Marfo, 2013; Feigenblatt, 2010). Identity issues become pronounced whenever an individual identifies with another through linguistic characteristics, religious affinity, marriage bonds, race, or by belonging to an organization or occupation (Bromell, 2008; Howard, 2000; & Phinney, 1990). Spiegel (2008) describes the essence of traumatic stress as helplessness, which he defines as “a loss of control over one's body”. He further clarifies these in the following words: “[t]he mental imprint of such frightening experiences sometimes takes the form of loss of control over parts of one’s mind – identity, memory, and consciousness – just as physical control is regained.” Peichl (2007b, p. 23) describes trauma as a toxic condition, a mixture of intense anxiety, absolute helplessness and a loss of control. In addition, Levine (1997, p. 128-9) observed, it is the factor that determines whether an event could be classified as traumatic to the person as whether its impact remains unresolved. Therefore, it is significant to note that, the importance of the perception of the real nature of an event by an individual is tantamount to ascertaining whether an experience was traumatic to a person or not. The term ‘perceived life-threatening experiences’ or ‘perceived overwhelming experiences’ features repeatedly in the literature (Levine, 2005, p. 7, Van der Kolk & McFarlane 1996, p. 6). It is also the perception of the event that will determine the extent and nature of the impact it has on the person. Finally, the term ‘trauma’ could be said to have originated from the Greek word trauma (“wound”). This term can be interpreted in the context of both physical and psychic wounding.