UNDERSTANDING CONFLICT AND PROMOTING PEACE IN IRELAND - PSYCHOLOGY CONTRIBUTION

For twenty-five years part of the island of Ireland has been embroiled in political conflict. The present paper traces the contribution that psychology has made during this period to understanding this conflict and to promoting peace. The bulk of the work that psychologists have been involved in has revolved around questions concerning the mental h ealth of those adults and children caught up in the conflict in Northe rn Ireland, attempts to use psychological knowledge to understand the dynamics of the conflict and also to promote peace and reconciliation.