TRAUMAS OF MODERN SOCIETIES

The author compares technological and man made disasters on the exampl es of the Chernobyl catastrophy and war in Bosnia. He introduces some details related to better understanding the coherence of both cases. W hat concerns the war in Bosnia, he issues from seven working stays wit h children affected by posttraumatic stress disorder. The article call s attention to long-term and persisting effects of breakdowns and wars on the mental life of humans. The breakdown in Chernobyl resulted in increased ''avoidance'', war in Bosnia brought forth ''avoidance'' as well as ''intrusion'' reactions.