To Play, Learn, and Think: Understanding and Mitigating the Effects of Exposure to Violent Events on the Cognitive Capacity of Children and Adolescents

To Play, Learn, and Think: Understanding and Mitigating the Effects of Exposure to Violent Events on the Cognitive Capacity of Children and Adolescents Research on the effects of exposure to real-life violent events point to resulting difficulties in cognitive capacity. This creates difficulties for schoolchildren in thinking and learning. Often their “trauma” is then compounded by failure at school and inability to solve problems in their lives. Children who live in ongoing violence cannot wait until better times make it possible to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and ensure safety. Instead, psychodynamic programs can assist them to improve their capacity for symbol formation while they continue to live in an uncertain world. This article gives an example of such a program in New York City and points the way toward future research.