The emotional management of death and absence by forensic anthropologists in Colombia and Peru.

Homicide; Mental health personnel; Well-being; Practical politics; Self-management (Psychology); Violence; Disasters; Interviewing; Forensic anthropology; Psychosocial factors; Emotions; Death; Mass casualties; Psychological adaptation; Commitment (Psychology); Forensic psychiatry

Colombia; Peru

This article analyzes the experiences of seven forensic anthropologists working on exhumations in cases related to political violence and armed conflict in Colombia and Peru. From a critical social psychology perspective, we investigate the ways in which these professionals manage their emotions in the face of situations of violence, including murder, massacres, and enforced disappearances. We analyze both the emotional impact of confronting mass violence and the coping mechanisms developed by these professionals in order to continue doing their work. The experiences recounted by the forensic anthropologists interviewed for this study oscillate between a marked professional commitment and the need for distance to safeguard their own emotional well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Death Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)