Transformative psychology #1: Former combatants turned transformative conflict workers

What is the psychology of a former combatant turning and learning conflict transformation? Irish researchers into the identity processing of former combatants during the Troubles reveal a tendency of those seeking to become conflict transformation specialists tend to construct a self-image of their new profession not as a negation of their former armed fighter identity but rather as an evolution along a professional continuum (Flack & Ferguson, 2021). This seems to psychologically self-manage the frequent collective and individual aversion to regarding what some would legitimately call a radical shift or pivot and instead justify or self-reassure pride in growth and skill development. 

A potential pitfall, of course, is the emotional need to self-assess the new profession as more expert and more valid than those who started with nonviolent conflict transformation and never went through the role of violent combatant. The tensions can better be managed when mutually understood. The former combatant often has a strong sense of pride in the bravery and total commitment of having been in combat, while the conflict transformer who decided against that in the beginning can descend into moral or ethical judgment of the former combatant. The vulnerabilities of both can be reduced by greater understanding of the other.

References

Flack, P., & Ferguson, N. (2021). Conflict Transformation: Relinquishing or Maintaining Social Identity Among Former Loyalist Combatants in Northern Ireland. Political Psychology, 42(2), 185–200. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12694