Embracing Tension as a Path to Integration

"This post is the second in a three-part series based on a 2023 qualitative study conducted by The Fund for Armenian Relief's (FAR's) Child Protection Center (CPC) to explore the psychological and social dynamics of forced displacement, using Armenia's integration of more than 115,000 displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) as a contemporary case study. In, we examined how displacement disrupts identity and belonging and efforts to understand the psychological impacts on both displaced individuals and host societies."

"The arrival of displaced communities creates tensions that hinder integration. Host communities often face frayed social trust issues due to economic instability, limited employment opportunities, and strained public services. Armenia's recent experience with displaced Armenians from neighboring Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) illustrates the complexity and emotional dimensions of this process. Research conducted by The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) employed an interdisciplinary approach, merging sociological, cultural, and psychological theories with extensive qualitative field data collected across various Armenian communities that hosted displaced individuals."

"A critical observation from this study aligns closely with Integrated Threat Theory by Stephan and Stephan (2000). According to this framework, social tension and mistrust between groups typically emerge from four primary perceptions: symbolic threats, realistic threats, intergroup anxiety, and negative stereotypes. Realistic threats, which involve competition for tangible resources, were evident. One local resident encapsulated this sentiment: "Artsakh Armenians all receive money and aid...which angers the disadvantaged class here." This statement shows how perceived inequities in th"

The arrival of more than 115,000 displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenian communities generated significant social tensions that impeded integration. Host communities faced frayed social trust amid economic instability, limited employment opportunities, and strained public services. Perceived realistic threats manifested as competition for tangible resources and perceptions of unequal aid, fueling resentment among disadvantaged locals. Symbolic threats, intergroup anxiety, and negative stereotypes further amplified mistrust and social fragmentation. Interventions that address economic pressures, perceived inequities, and social trust repair are necessary to reduce tensions and support sustainable integration of displaced populations.

Read at Psychology Today