Positive vs. Negative Peace: Psychological Insights for Harmony

Peace psychology has defined what peace is, normally segmented into two broad approaches: positive peace and negative peace. Johan Galtung, the founder of Peace Studies, first introduced this division to help people better understand how communities approach war and maintain harmony in societies.

Read More: Peace Psychology – Conflict, Violence, and Peace

Negative Peace: The Absence of Violence  

Negative peace is a situation in the absence of actual war, conflict, or battle. This refers to an undesirable situation of unseemly behaviour through acts of violence or even oppression. A situation is when a war or an armed struggle has ceased. 

• Important Aspects
  • Lack of war: In cases when there are armed conflicts that were ceased. 
  • Diminishing of violence: Physical, emotional, and/or psychological hurt will be deleted. 
  • Managing or mitigating conflicts: Deal with arguments to prevent further flare-ups into violence. 
• Example: A ceasefire agreement is signed between two warring countries, resulting in a cessation of hostilities but without addressing the root causes of the conflict. This may only momentarily decrease violence without yielding to long-term solutions and peace or reconciliation. 

Read More: The Essential Art of Ignoring for Inner Peace

Positive Peace: Building a Future of Long Life

Positive peace is defined by the presence of structures, attitudes, and behaviours that promote and sustain harmonious societies. It encompasses creating justice, equity, and social cohesion, as well as addressing systemic issues. 

Important Aspects

1. Inner peace: Emotional balance and contentment. 

2. Social peace: Relations that are built on mutual respect, sensitivity, and understanding. 

3. Environmental peace: Conservation of nature and natural resources.

4. Cultural peace: Enjoying diversity, pluralism, and tolerance. 

• Importance: Positive peace promotes the development of societies that bring about more economic and well-being benefits, and more inclusive and environmental achievements. They address structural inequalities by preventing them from turning into conflicts.
• Example: As a positive peace case, post-apartheid South Africa established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to rebuild relationships, rectify past unjust conditions, and establish a society on the principles of equity and inclusiveness. 

Read More: The Psychology of Mental Peace

Theoretical Foundation

One of the most prominent peace theorists was Johan Galtung, who defined this  differentiation, claiming that: 

• Negative Peace: addresses the symptoms, for example, violence, 
• Positive Peace: addresses the causes, like structural inequality. 

Parallel to medical science, Galtung believed that the study of diseases can cure them;  likewise, knowing healthy human systems allows one to know how to preserve well-being.

Read More: 9 Healthy Ways to Channel Anger and Find Inner Peace

Applications in Psychology 

Peace psychology uses these concepts to study human behaviour and mental processes within war and peace environments. For example: William James articulated in The Moral Equivalent of War (1910) that the psychological appeal for war be replaced with non-violent alternatives. Psychologists use positive peace methods to develop an atmosphere of mental health, resistance, and community well-being.

Read More: “From being peaceful to into pieces”: The Inner Journey of a People-Pleaser

Example in Psychology 

One of the community-based interventions is creating positive peace, such as creating awareness about mental health and providing safe spaces for dialogue. For example, counselling for survivors of natural calamities in the aftermath of a disaster deals with trauma (negative peace) and builds resilience (positive peace). 

Conclusion 

By comprehending interplay—that is, the connections between positive and negative peace people, decision-makers, and psychologists may create comprehensive strategies for resolving conflicts in a way that promotes lasting harmony. The fundamental foundation of negative peace is the abolition of violence. However, its development establishes societies that are progressive, empathic, and egalitarian.