An interview with Child Psychologist Diana Danielian On July 12, the Narekatsi Art Union organized the 6th Aram Manukyan Camp in the center of Shushi. Over 100 children, mostly from Shushi, attended the two week camp. Diana Danielian, a psychologist from the U.S. who has worked with the children last year and this year, was kind enough to answer the following questions of Hetq.

What types of psychological problems exist in the war zone, especially with children? The problems deal with just being kids, to be free of fears and daily problems. I was surprised and troubled to see the kids fashioning guns and soldiers from the play things we gave them. There is a great deal of pent-up aggression in our kids in Shushi. This is natural in a way. You see the children push and hit one another even while holding hands in a loving way. It rarely happens that you see the kids playing happily without any adult supervision. I often see aggression or tensions crop up in the kids alongside a sense of loyalty and fondness that they have for one another. Even though these children weren’t around to experience the actual war, they have grown up in homes where there are pictures hanging of lost loved ones. They know that their family has lost this or that person in the war – relatives, fathers, uncles. There are still people dying today and there is continued firing and lingering fear. If we look at the issue from this perspective, adding on the almost daily threats by the Azerbaijanis that they will strike, isn’t it normal for the children to make guns from Lego-blocks? Sure, it is natural. But it isn’t a desirable trait. Each person, each generation possesses certain influences. This generation carries around an influence of fear, of war, and of being threatened. I would like to see these kids grow up in ideal conditions and for them to enjoy their childhood. Of course, it is good to be on the alert and to understand the existing conditions, but I would like to think that these kids shouldn’t be straddled with concerns of defense or of finding their next meal. For the normal development of a child what is of primary importance are things like playtime, freedom, rest and safety. Then too, these kids can only but relive the experiences of their parents. What is the main personality trait of children growing up in a war zone? What I have seen is an incredible flexibility in the children of Shushi; the way they have been able to psychologically deal with all those problems and continue to remain strong and decent. They are psychological strong and decent kids. I think they really don’t have the time to feel sorry for themselves. In another place, we have the time to ask the kids that what happened to them was wrong. With a child from Shushi, we don’t have the time to say that “I agree with you; that such things shouldn’t have happened.” Do the bombed out buildings and ruined homes of Shushi have a psychological effect on the children? When I came to Shushi for the first time last year, the natural beauty of the place amazed me. Shushi exerts a certain magnetic energy. But when I saw the ruined and destroyed buildings, the first thought I had was that all this could only serve as a reminder to the children and adults alike that Shushi is a war zone and that people were killed here. There have been some major changes this year. Construction has begun and they are literally building new homes on the ruins of the old. Today, it’s as if we are looking at a partially dead town. After reconstruction, things will be much better. As a psychologist, what type of work have you done with the children? I organized conversations with the children and their families and attempted to get them to vocalize their emotions and thoughts. There was a girl who saw her mother killed in front of their house. The girl saw it all from a concealed vantage point. Even though the incident happened several years ago, the girl only spoke to me about the experience last year for the first time. When I asked her if she had spoken about what she saw with anyone else, she answered, no. I am sure the authorities and others took care of her, but they failed to pay attention to her psychological emotions. Kids frequently come up to me and request that I talk to them for a while. A group of 14-15 year-olds approached me and asked if I would devote some time to them. They had set up some chairs in a secret place so that no one could see them. All they wanted to do is talk about their daily problems as teenagers – normal things like meeting members of the opposite sex. They complained that such things weren’t allowed. They just had the need to discuss these things with a person willing to listen, who would not pass judgment, and who would tell them that it was completely normal for a 15 year-old to have a sweetheart and to have disagreements with their parents. These kids have many pent-up emotions. Despite it all, I was amazed that the kids from Shushi acted in such a mature fashion and with a sense of responsibility towards their emotions, their parents, and towards themselves. I have noticed this reluctance to express themselves in many of the kids. They don’t want to be an additional burden on their parents. They hold it all inside. They just get on with their life and tackle everyday problems; just like their families. When I talked to some of the kids at the camp, I got the sense that the aim for many was to get their hands on something, to bring it home. Sadly, I have heard of incidents, and have talked to the Shushi police, about kids beginning to steal or begging near churches. It is evident to me that these kids have potential but that they believe their first duty is to assist the family unit. And the family isn’t telling these children, “No. You should be enjoying your childhood.” The bulk of Shushi society is really burdened with getting by on a day to day basis. They have to ensure their survivability in physical, psychological and social terms. When these children see their parents struggling to make ends meet, to put some food on the table and make some pocket money, little time is left for the kids to dream about their future, their wishes and desires. I believe that most parents fell it is enough that their children have clothes on their back, food in their stomachs and are relatively safe; nothing more. You have worked here in Shushi. Can you point to any results? The greatest result is that the kids have been afforded a chance, an opportunity, to express themselves, to talk. They have been given a sense of dignity. They have been so caught up in their daily problems that they haven’t had a chance to feel appreciated. This year I realized that when I return my work will have to focus on the parents. It would be great if a group of parents could get together and hear about advice on raising kids; the do’s and don’ts as it were. How things like physical violence could really negatively impact on a child’s development. I am certain that if I were to use the word ‘violence’ in Shushi, they would call me crazy. This problem is quite normal in the society and quite widespread. But I think we would have a greater impact with the kids by talking with the parents. Have you undergone any changes on a personal level after working with the kids from Shushi? Certainly. I have been reminded about how tough life can really be. When comparing the Shushi kids with those I work with back in the U.S., I was really amazed and began to think more about the professional approaches I employ. I have culled some important lessons when taking into account all the time and effort afforded to just one child in the States and that kids in Shushi go without any of it. You look at the results, certain differences in characteristic traits, and much of interest is revealed.