Preliminary communication
Problem of Refugees’ Return from the Point of View of the War Gain
Neda Esapović-Greš
; Psychiatric Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
War gain is secondary gain under condition of war. Secondary gain is an unconscious tendency toward gratification from the reality, on the basis of a symptom or a position. Secondary gain initiated in the framework of former Yugoslavia, where the participant in a war or the member of the ruling class could achieve gain without control, while his work and personal qualities were secondary. Such practice of secondary gain helped a great deal to the disintegration of Yugoslavia. By knowing such a negative role of secondary gain, war merits in Croatia will be aimed in a more appropriate way. War gain is also bound to the problem of refugees and displaced persons. The regression of the persons who had to leave their domicile, delays their return because of protection, viz. one form of gratification, which they enjoy as displaced persons. The donator of the help to displaced persons also expect a secondary gain as a person who “sacrificed” himself for the acceptor of help, and besides that to have a right for aggression against a dominant position in relation to a displaced person. Return to the domicile is for some a sort of an adventure, for other is accomplishment of masochistic impulses, and for the enemy is a chance to show himself as a grateful. In all three cases, we are speaking about regressive gratification, viz. secondary gain. Professional help, besides scientific processing on data on soldiers, wounded, refugees and civilians, could also become a secondary gain, when such help and work become the primary aim. We have also often noticed a competition which harms this activity, and diminishes its ethical component.
Keywords
displaced persons; refugees; war gain; return
Hrčak ID:
127281
URI
Publication date:
31.12.1992.
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