elpais.com
Repressed Pandemic Trauma: Societal Amnesia and its Consequences
Two years post-pandemic, the avoidance of discussing COVID-19's emotional impact is widespread, mirroring psychological repression of trauma; a case study illustrates how repressed trauma can manifest as irrational anxieties years later.
- What are the immediate societal consequences of the widespread avoidance of processing the collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Five years after the pandemic's start, an author's proposal for a pandemic-set novel was rejected by a publisher due to the perceived risk of addressing the topic too soon. Now, two years after the official end of the health crisis, pandemic-related narratives are rare, indicating a collective effort to avoid processing the trauma. The UN estimates 15 million pandemic-related deaths (2020-2021).
- What are the potential long-term societal impacts of failing to adequately address and process the collective trauma experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- The collective avoidance of processing the COVID-19 pandemic's trauma could lead to long-term, unseen mental health consequences. The repression of such a globally significant event, rather than facilitating healing, may result in future anxieties or societal issues arising from unresolved collective trauma. This necessitates open dialogue and acknowledgment of the pandemic's lasting impact.
- How does the individual case study in "Mágicamente" illustrate the psychological mechanisms behind the collective reluctance to confront pandemic-related trauma?
- This avoidance of the pandemic's emotional impact mirrors a psychological phenomenon: individuals may repress traumatic experiences, leading to seemingly irrational anxieties or phobias later. A case study in Jaume Bordas' book, "Mágicamente," details a woman whose agoraphobia stemmed from a repressed childhood sexual assault, triggered by a similar encounter years later.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative frames the avoidance of discussing the pandemic as a form of collective trauma and repression. This framing emphasizes the psychological impact over other aspects, potentially influencing readers to focus primarily on the emotional consequences.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral and descriptive. However, terms like "trauma," "stress," and "amnesia" could be considered somewhat loaded, depending on the context. More neutral phrasing could be used in certain instances, such as 'difficult experience' instead of 'trauma'.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, neglecting the economic, social, and political consequences. While acknowledging the emotional trauma, it omits discussion of other significant impacts of the pandemic, which might lead to an incomplete understanding of its overall effects.
False Dichotomy
The article doesn't present a false dichotomy, but it simplifies the collective trauma of the pandemic by comparing it to an individual case of repressed trauma. This comparison might be misleading, as the collective experience is more complex and multifaceted.
Gender Bias
The example used to illustrate repressed trauma involves a female victim of sexual assault. While this is relevant, the article lacks broader representation of different genders and experiences related to the pandemic.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article discusses the collective trauma experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and its long-term effects on mental health. The avoidance of discussing the pandemic, described as a form of "enquisted memory", prevents processing and healing, leading to unresolved stress and anxiety. This negatively impacts mental well-being and highlights the need for addressing the psychological consequences of major global events.