Children and Terrorism. Social Policy Report. Volume 29, Number 2

Society for Research in Child Development. 2950 South State Street Suite 401, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Tel: 734-926-0600; Fax: 734-926-0601; e-mail: info@srcd.org; Web site: http://www.srcd.org

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39

Policymakers

Terrorism; Public Policy; Children; Youth; Victims; Social Influences; Holistic Approach; Intervention; Political Issues; Violence; Resilience (Psychology); Coping; War; Foreign Countries; Racial Bias; Gender Bias; Religious Factors

Palestine; South Africa; United States

1075-7031

Hardly a week goes by in the United States (and to varying degrees, in the rest of the world) that the word "terrorism" does not appear in the collective consciousness, as represented, channeled, and shaped by the mass media in its many print, broadcast, and internet manifestations. While relatively few children worldwide (and even fewer children domestically in the United States) have been the specific targets for acts of terrorism, some have, and most are growing up in a world in which terrorism in its many aspects is a salient cultural phenomenon. This paper explores the impact of growing up in a world with terrorism on children and youth. It considers both the direct traumatic effects of being a victim and the indirect effects of living in communities and societies in which the threat of terrorism is on the minds of children, but perhaps more importantly, of adults generally, and parents and policy makers in particular. It also considers policy initiatives and programmatic responses. [This document includes two commentaries: (1) Towards a More Holistic Approach to Helping Children Affected by Terrorism and Political Violence (Kathleen Kostelny and Michael Wessells); and (2) Children and Political Violence: Progress on the Pathways of Risk, Resilience, and Peace (Ann S. Masten). Commentaries are individually referenced.]

As Provided

145

2016

ED569207