Consistent Life at 25 YearsConsistent Life at 25 YearsInsights from Psychology Insights from Psychology

Aftermath of Doing ViolenceAftermath of Doing Violence

Combat veterans have long shown that Combat veterans have long shown that Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common aftermath of war, and seems to be common aftermath of war, and seems to be worse for those who killed in battle. worse for those who killed in battle.

Evidence of post-trauma Evidence of post-trauma symptoms has also shown up symptoms has also shown up

inin execution staff, some abortion-execution staff, some abortion- providing staff, and otherproviding staff, and other socially-approved killing. socially-approved killing.

PTSD Definition from DSM-IVPTSD Definition from DSM-IV

an actual traumaan actual trauma

Cluster B. re-experiencing the Cluster B. re-experiencing the traumatrauma

Cluster C. numbingCluster C. numbing Cluster D. increased arousalCluster D. increased arousal

It’s stickingIt’s sticking

Is Killing Traumatic Is Killing Traumatic to Those Who Do It?to Those Who Do It?

The National Vietnam Veterans The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS) Readjustment Study (NVVRS) includes a stratified random includes a stratified random sample of 1,638 combat sample of 1,638 combat veterans, collected in the veterans, collected in the 1980s1980s

Do those who have killed Do those who have killed have higher PTSD scores have higher PTSD scores than those who have not?than those who have not?

►Answered yes on killing:Answered yes on killing: 93.493.4

►Answered no on killing: Answered no on killing: 71.971.9

►p p < .001< .001►Cohen’s d = .97Cohen’s d = .97

For those exposed to killing of For those exposed to killing of civilians or prisoners -- civilians or prisoners --

►directly involved: 105.6directly involved: 105.6

►only saw: 79.4only saw: 79.4

►pp < .001 < .001►Cohen’s d = .86Cohen’s d = .86

Is it just an association with Is it just an association with battle intensity? battle intensity?

Self-rated level Self-rated level No-kill No-kill Kill Kill

► Light Light 70.6 70.6 85.5 85.5

► Moderate Moderate 77.9 77.9 91.091.0

► Heavy Heavy 80.380.3 101.3 101.3

Addiction to Trauma:The Thrill of the Kill

• Brain opioids, a stress response very helpful when running from a tiger, become maladaptive.

• Withdrawal symptoms mean craving another hit.

• Irony: a state of euphoria can still be associated with trauma.

• Perhaps where term “bloodthirsty” comes from.

Going high class . . .

While PTSD is a disorder, it is common that rather than being dysfunctional, people become super-functional, with workaholism.

This is more adaptive than alcoholism, but is self-medication in a similar way.

This helps to account for PITS sufferers in government, corporations, and abortion clinics.

Research study, 1974:Research study, 1974:

““obsessional thinking about abortion, obsessional thinking about abortion, depression, fatigue, anger, lowered depression, fatigue, anger, lowered self-esteem, and identity conflicts self-esteem, and identity conflicts were prominent. The symptom were prominent. The symptom complex was considered a complex was considered a ‘transient reactive disorder,’ similar ‘transient reactive disorder,’ similar to ‘combat fatigue’.”to ‘combat fatigue’.”

Such-Baer, M. (1974). Professional staff reaction to abortion work. Such-Baer, M. (1974). Professional staff reaction to abortion work. Social Casework, July,Social Casework, July, 435- 435-

441.441.

Research study, 1989:Research study, 1989:

"Ambivalent periods were characterized by a "Ambivalent periods were characterized by a variety of otherwise uncharacteristic variety of otherwise uncharacteristic feelings and behavior including withdrawal feelings and behavior including withdrawal from colleagues, resistance to going to from colleagues, resistance to going to work, lack of energy, impatience with work, lack of energy, impatience with clients and an overall sense of uneasiness. clients and an overall sense of uneasiness. Nightmares, images that could not be Nightmares, images that could not be shaken and preoccupation were commonly shaken and preoccupation were commonly reported.” reported.”

Roe, K. M. (1989). Private troubles and public issues: Providing abortion amid competing Roe, K. M. (1989). Private troubles and public issues: Providing abortion amid competing definitions. definitions. Social Science and Medicine, 29,Social Science and Medicine, 29, 1191-1198. 1191-1198.

DreamsDreams

““I have fetus dreams, we all do here: I have fetus dreams, we all do here: dreams of abortions one after the dreams of abortions one after the other; of buckets of blood splashed on other; of buckets of blood splashed on the walls; trees full of crawling fetuses. the walls; trees full of crawling fetuses. I dreamed that two men grabbed me I dreamed that two men grabbed me and began to drag me away. "Let's do and began to drag me away. "Let's do an abortion," they said with a sickening an abortion," they said with a sickening leer, and I began to scream, plunged leer, and I began to scream, plunged into a vision of sucking, scraping pain.”into a vision of sucking, scraping pain.”

Sallie Tisdale, “We Do Abortions Here,” Sallie Tisdale, “We Do Abortions Here,” Harper's MagazineHarper's Magazine, October, 1987, October, 1987

Intrusive Imagery and ReenactmentIntrusive Imagery and Reenactment

““time and again I flashed back to my time and again I flashed back to my own abortion. I carried those memories own abortion. I carried those memories into every meeting.” (p. 46) into every meeting.” (p. 46) [“flashback” = B(3)].[“flashback” = B(3)].

““Every single day I worked, and with Every single day I worked, and with each patient I treated, I remembered each patient I treated, I remembered that abortion.” (p. 93)that abortion.” (p. 93)

Susan Wicklund with Alan Kesselheim, Susan Wicklund with Alan Kesselheim, This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion DoctorDoctor. (New York: PublicAffairs, 2007). . (New York: PublicAffairs, 2007).

The Mind’s Drive for Consistency

The theory of “cognitive dissonance” is that people want their actions, beliefs, and emotions to match. A mis-match is stressful. It can be dealt with reasonably by changing what’s discordant.

Or it can lead to some remarkable mental gymnastics to insist it’s not inconsistent.

Problem -

1970s:

Cognition 1: We Americans are a noble and virtuous people.

Cognition 2: Abortion numbers are rising.

Oops . . .

Huge problem.

Can’t give up Cognition 1 – our self-esteem is involved.

Can’t give up Cognition 2 – it’s a fact.

Therefore, to make them consistent – abortion must not be so bad.

To the rescue:

Taken from Henshaw, Stanley K. & Kost, Kathryn, “Trends in the Characteristics of Women Obtaining Abortions, 1974 to 2004” published by the Guttmacher Institute and available at http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2008/09/18/Report_Trends_Women_Obtaining_Abortions.pdf.

And a bigger downturn is on the way

Repeat abortions increase, become a greater portion, and so keep the numbers up.

But having a first is a prerequisite to being a repeater, and the pool of first-timers has gone down more dramatically.

Therefore, as repeaters drop by attrition, a deeper plunge is coming.

Why the decline?

As clinics close, less supply leads to less demand.

Stigma remains. Services to pregnant women expand. 1990s Supreme Court allowed laws like

informed consent & parental involvement. Little-sister effect on abortion aftermath Pro-life education, especially ultrasound.

The Great Switch

1990s – 2000s:

Cognition 1: We Americans are a noble and virtuous people.

Cognition 2: Abortion numbers, rate, ratio are all going down.

Well, of course! The two match beautifully. In fact, #2 bolsters the case for #1.

Looking for reasons . . .

The theory of cognitive dissonance predicts that as people realize facts have changed, they’ll want to account for this

This helps to establish cognitive consistency.

We have plenty of reasons to offer.

Therefore, psychology tells us:

When educating on abortion, it helps to

Inform how the numbers are going down. Explain why this is likely to continue. Cast the arguments against abortion as

reasons for this decline Cast them to explain why listeners oppose

abortion now when they didn’t before.

Death Penalty Euthanasia Infanticide

Still to be guarded against, but now shadows of the carnage they used to be –

Psychology says, keep pointing that out!

Even War Deaths are Going DownEven War Deaths are Going Down

Rachel M. MacNair, Ph.D.Rachel M. MacNair, Ph.D.Director, Institute for Integrated Director, Institute for Integrated

Social AnalysisSocial Analysis

research arm, Consistent Life

Email: iisa@consistent-life.org or

admin@rachelmacnair.com

www.consistent-life.org/research

www.rachelmacnair.com/pits

816-753-2057