Monday, Sept. 11, will mark the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States. Two University of North Texas psychologist s say the anniversary, which is expected to receive extensive media coverage, will reactivate feelings of grief, including anger, sadness, depression and denial, in those who lost family members and friends on that day, and those who were safely evacuated from the Pentagon and World Trade Center. However, they have different opinions about the anniversary's impact on other Americans who witnessed the events via television. Dr. Bert Hayslip, Regents Professor of psychology at UNT, and Dr. Charles Guarnaccia, associate professor of psychology, have published several articles on bereavement in "Omega: Journal of Death and Dying." Hayslip believes that because Americans have become used to hearing about the events of 9/11, they will not necessarily experience feelings of grief on the fifth anniversary. Instead, the day "will bring back whatever feelings people had at the time" that they heard about the terrorist attacks, he says. "People will probably feel a sense of vulnerability and helplessness," he says. He adds, however, that without an event to reinforce those feelings -- such as the recently foiled terrorist plot to blow up passenger jets flying between the United Kingdom and the United States -- the feelings pass quickly for most people. "It's what happens, rather than the anniversary of the day when it happened, that triggers those feelings," he says. Guarnaccia, however, says that although those who lost loved ones on 9/11 are going to be the most deeply impacted by the fifth anniversary, "there will continue to be a sense of national loss" on Sept. 11 this year and subsequent years1, and almost every American could feel grief about the day. "We were all impacted to some degree on that day. The event was different from an isolated tragedy, like an auto accident or a heart attack that kills a family member," he says. He gives the example of a friend who has lived in lower Manhattan for more than 30 years and worked in one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center before 9/11. Guarnaccia says his friend has experienced avoidance for almost five years. "She did not lose anyone close to her on 9/11, but she will still not stand anyplace in Manhattan where she could previously see the towers. She doesn't want to be reminded that they are no longer there," Guarnaccia says. He notes that the fifth anniversary may trigger "flashbulb memories" of 9/11 -- memories created from experiencing a significant historical event. "Many people will recall where they were and what they were doing when they first heard about the terrorist attacks, who called them about it, and who they called," he says. "A whole society can be bereaved." Hayslip and Guarnaccia agree that this year's release of two movies about 9/11 -- "United 93" last April and "World Trade Center" just two weeks ago -- may or may not help people work through some of the feelings of loss. "I think many recognize the movies as an attempt to make money out of a tragic event, but others may say the movies reinforce a sense of the events not being forgotten," Hayslip says, adding that no movie could ever fill the void left by the deaths on 9/11. Hayslip may be reached at (940) 565-2675. Guarnaccia may be reached at (940) 565-2657. |
