Political Violence and Disruptions in the Development of Moral Agency

Researchers have studied the effects of exposure to long-term political violence on children largely in terms of adverse mental health outcomes, typically measured in relation to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. This study argues that for children, the important aftereffects of exposure to political violence extend beyond emotional distress to influence the development of morality. It points to 2 specific disruptions likely to occur in the development of moral agency and concludes by outlining future research directions and speculating about implications for policy and intervention.