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The scapegoat of war: protecting U.S. veterans.

Article Excerpt
This article discusses the implication of veterans receiving a negative homecoming upon returning home from combat. The negative homecoming received by Vietnam veterans is considered a form of societal scapegoating, and the potential for Afghanistan and Iraq veterans to be scapegoated is addressed.

Negative Homecoming and its Impact on Veterans' Mental Health

Many factors have been shown to contribute to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Vietnam veterans. Obviously, the psychological experience of being in combat and having one's life threatened while witnessing other gruesome acts has etiological significance. Having a pre-existing disorder that acts as a diathesis to the stress of combat is another contributing feature. However, one dynamic that has been shown to reliably and powerfully contribute to the diagnosis of PTSD in Vietnam veterans is that of a negative homecoming experience (Johnson, 1980; Solkoff, 1986; Butler, 1988; Green, 1990; Fontana, 1994; Orsillo, 1996; Fontana, 1997; Johnson, 1997; Cantrell, 2000; Koenan, 2003). The construct "negative homecoming experience" exudes subjectivity and could thus suggest that these veterans are not responding to objective reality. This is not the case, however, as the student of history is well aware of the objectively hostile, negative treatment that Vietnam veterans have endured.

It is the psychological impact of this negative treatment that has been showing up in studies that investigate the origins of veteran psychopathology. Johnson et al. (1980) report that the intensity of the veteran's homecoming was a stronger predictor of PTSD than combat exposure, as the insults, lack of support, anti lack of honor experienced by these veterans consequently led to anger, resentment, isolation, and eventually an emotional closing off from others. In another study, Orsillo et al. (1996) found that a negative homecoming coupled with shame about one's service is a stronger predictor of PTSD than combat exposure.

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Because the homecoming experience is such an instrumental variable in the veteran's post-combat adjustment, it is necessary to provide a safe, accepting environment in which the veteran can re-adjust. Such an...

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