{"id":4227,"date":"2026-06-08T10:11:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T10:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifx0.com\/?p=4227"},"modified":"2026-06-08T10:11:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T10:11:12","slug":"the-impact-of-collateral-damage-unravelling-psychological-mechanisms-in-the-context-of-war-and-conflict-a-literature-review-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifx0.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/08\/the-impact-of-collateral-damage-unravelling-psychological-mechanisms-in-the-context-of-war-and-conflict-a-literature-review-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The impact of collateral damage: Unravelling psychological mechanisms in the context of war and conflict; A literature review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

title:<\/strong>The impact of collateral damage: Unravelling
psychological mechanisms in the context of war
and conflict; A literature review<\/p>\n

A Necessary Psychological Lens on Collateral Damage: A Positive Commentary on Uludag (2024)<\/span><\/h3>\n

The literature review by Kadir Uludag (2024), “The impact of collateral damage: Unravelling psychological mechanisms in the context of war and conflict,” makes a timely and critically important contribution to the intersection of psychology, political science, and international humanitarian law. By shifting the focus from purely legal or strategic assessments of collateral damage to its deep psychological underpinnings, this paper offers several key benefits for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Bridging a Critical Gap in the Literature<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most valuable contributions of this review is its explicit focus on the <\/span>psychological mechanisms<\/span><\/em> that both enable and result from collateral damage. While international law (e.g., proportionality and distinction) provides a necessary framework, it often overlooks the cognitive and emotional processes\u2014such as moral disengagement, desensitisation, and dehumanisation\u2014that shape the behavior of combatants and the tolerance of civilian harm by societies. Uludag masterfully synthesizes diverse theoretical perspectives, including Bandura’s moral disengagement, terror management theory, and research on violent media effects. This integration fills a significant void, offering a more holistic understanding of why collateral damage persists despite legal prohibitions and technological advancements.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Methodological Transparency and Practical Utility<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The author\u2019s explicit use of the <\/span>SANRA (Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles)<\/span><\/strong> criteria is a notable strength. By adhering to a recognized quality standard for narrative reviews, Uludag enhances the transparency and reproducibility of his synthesis. This is particularly beneficial for readers who need to assess the rigor of the conclusions without the formal structure of a systematic review. Furthermore, the review successfully extracts actionable insights from a wide range of sources\u2014from studies on Iraqi missile attacks causing myocardial infarctions to analyses of post-harm compensation reducing insurgent violence. These real-world examples ground the theoretical discussion in practical realities, making the paper highly useful for military trainers, humanitarian workers, and peace psychologists.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Highlighting Underappreciated Mechanisms: Desensitisation and Technology<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The review\u2019s treatment of <\/span>desensitisation<\/span><\/strong> as a key psychological pathway to collateral damage is particularly innovative. Uludag connects exposure to violent video games, television violence, and social media with a reduced physiological and emotional response to killing. By raising the provocative question of whether modern military training and digital entertainment may inadvertently normalize violence against civilians, the paper opens a crucial avenue for further empirical research. This is a benefit that extends beyond academia: it directly informs military ethics education, media literacy programs, and public health campaigns aimed at reducing aggression.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Emphasising the Psychological Toll on Both Victims and Perpetrators<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Another strength of the review is its balanced focus on <\/span>dual psychological trajectories<\/span><\/strong>. On one hand, it documents the severe trauma inflicted on civilian populations\u2014including indirect effects like famine, healthcare collapse, and stress-induced cardiac events during missile attacks. On the other hand, it acknowledges the psychological challenges faced by soldiers, such as military sexual trauma and the moral injury that may follow from causing unintended civilian deaths. This bidirectional perspective is essential for comprehensive post-conflict mental health interventions and for designing training programs that protect the psychological well-being of military personnel while minimising harm to non-combatants.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Offering Clear, Actionable Recommendations<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Uludag does not stop at diagnosis; he provides concrete, psychologically informed recommendations. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n