Commemorating 9-11 Important, but Exposure to Scenes can be Traumatic, says UA Psychologist

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Reflecting on the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 is both natural and healthy, says The University of Alabama’s Dr. Jerome Rosenberg, but prolonged exposure to media coverage surrounding the event’s one-year anniversary can be distressful, the psychologist says.

“When you have a traumatic event like that, there’s no question that remembering and commemorating is an important part of the grieving and the mourning process,” said Rosenberg, an associate professor of psychology and New College in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Clearly this was an American tragedy, and though it happened in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, the country responded to it collectively, and I think that’s how the commemoration should be.

“In some areas of mourning, at the end of the first year you reflect on the event, and it’s also a point where you begin to moderate the intensive amount of grief and start moving on,” said the UA professor whose research interests include trauma and survival.

“All the media will relive the event for us. In many cases, that will produce its own kind of trauma. My concern would be, in particular, for children. Without revisiting this with the guidance of family and others, children might not realize this perspective of ‘one year later,’ and they may actually see this as happening again.”

Rosenberg said some are sure to exploit the upcoming anniversary for a variety of reasons other than commemoration.

“It is likely to serve as a point of political discourse about many political issues that are tied to, or related to, the original event. There may be a resurfacing of issues of patriotism and nationalism. And I think it would be important to recognize that the major reason is commemoration and remembrance, and that there will be ample time for all the other agendas to have their day.”

In many ways and for many people, the days surrounding Sept. 11, 2002 may recreate some of the feelings that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, Rosenberg said.

“I think there will be a period around that date where a lot of the anxiety that surfaced immediately is going to come up again. I think a lot of people will be reluctant to travel. I think it will also be a rallying cry. We’ve gone a year, and we have made some strides in what we’re calling the war against terror. And there’s still an open-end as to how this will end.”

Rosenberg said he believes the upcoming commemoration will be only the first of many.

“I suspect there will be a regular commemoration over the years — not just the first one — that will remind us of the date of that kind of tragedy.”