The political consequences of trauma

Traumatic life experiences can have profound and lasting effects on survivors’ brains, bodies, and minds. Although a handful of studies have considered the consequences of major events like wars, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters for political behavior, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how and why trauma affects one’s orientations toward government and their engagement with politics. This dissertation provides a framework for understanding the relationship between trauma and political attitudes and behavior, building on existing research about the psychological impact of trauma. Traumas that involve elements of betrayal from someone known to the victim have especially deleterious effects on their psychological and physical well-being. Using multiple data sources, I examine the political consequences of three traumas: military combat experience (Chapter 2), childhood maltreatment (Chapter 3), and intimate partner violence (Chapter 4). I find that each of these traumas is associated with reduced political trust, political efficacy, and engagement