The psychological cost of reconciliation

During civil wars, individuals and communities who were previously good neighbors can end up fighting each other. One approach to reknit these sundered social ties is to bring perpetrators and victims together in truth and reconciliation forums. Cilliers et al. found that these forums have helped to reestablish social bonds in Sierra Leone, but that they have also imposed a cost on the victims' mental health (see the Perspective by Casey and Glennerster).

Science, this issue p. 787; see also p. 766