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Published on: March 8, 2018
Conflict nightmares and trauma in Aceh.
Jesse Hession Grayman1, Mary-Jo Delvecchio Good, Byron J Good
1Department of Anthropology, Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138-2044, USA. jgrayman@gmail.com
Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry
|March 14, 2009
Summary
Despite the absence of a specific word for "nightmare," Acehnese dream narratives reveal significant connections to past traumatic experiences and mental distress, highlighting their role in the trauma process.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cultural Anthropology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- The Acehnese and Indonesian languages lack a direct lexical term for "nightmare."
- Cultural beliefs in Aceh attribute terrifying dreams to mischievous spirits (jin) rather than viewing them as dreams.
- Traumatic experiences during Aceh's protracted rebellion against the Indonesian state have led to widespread mental distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the nature of dream narratives in Aceh in relation to past traumatic experiences.
- To investigate the significance of dream content in the trauma process within a culturally distinct context.
- To differentiate between trauma-related dreams and ordinary dream reports.
Main Methods:
- Large-scale field research conducted in Aceh.
- Examination of post-traumatic experiences and current mental distress.
- Analysis of dream narratives and their connection to respondents' past traumatic experiences.
Main Results:
- A rich variety of dream narratives were found to be directly and indirectly linked to respondents' past traumatic experiences.
- Respondents reporting symptoms suggestive of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were more likely to report PTSD-like dreams and memory intrusions.
- Nightmares related to conflict events were not explicitly recognized as a feature of trauma within the local understanding, but further inquiry revealed their presence.
Conclusions:
- Dream content, including trauma-related narratives, plays a significant role in the psychological processing of trauma, even when not explicitly labeled as "nightmares."
- Distinguishing between repetitive, trauma-recreating dreams and ordinary dreams is crucial for understanding the trauma process.
- Cultural interpretations of dreams do not negate their connection to traumatic experiences and mental health outcomes.
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