Learning Trauma? Psychologization of the Camp Experience in the Greek Border Hotspots
Since the implementation of the hotspot logic in the EU, the public and scientific discussion has thus focused on the mental health problems and the “trauma” produced by the Greek hotspots’ conditions, characterized by harsh living conditions and daily exposure to diverse forms of violence. However,...
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| Τόπος έκδοσης: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/e-migrinter, |
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| Κύριος συγγραφέας: | |
| Μορφή: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Γλώσσα: | Anglais |
| Έκδοση: |
e-Migrinter
2026
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| Θέματα: | |
| Διαθέσιμο Online: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
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openedition-oai:revues.org:e-migrinter_5214 |
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openedition |
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openedition-oai:revues.org:e-migrinter_5214 https://doi.org/10.4000/15gvo urn:doi:10.4000/15gvo en https://journals.openedition.org/e-migrinter/5214 2026-01-08T01:00:00Z info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess article info:eu-repo/semantics/article urn:handle:20.500.13089/15gvo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Learning Trauma? Psychologization of the Camp Experience in the Greek Border Hotspots e-Migrinter Université de Poitiers info:eu-repo/semantics/reference/issn/1961-9685 URI:https://journals.openedition.org/e-migrinter Koutsioumpa, Eleftheria-Elith socialisation frontière psychologisation hotspots européens vulnérabilité border vulnerability psychologization socialization european hotspots Since the implementation of the hotspot logic in the EU, the public and scientific discussion has thus focused on the mental health problems and the “trauma” produced by the Greek hotspots’ conditions, characterized by harsh living conditions and daily exposure to diverse forms of violence. However, experiencing trauma or having a mental illness and understanding that one is traumatized or learning when, how and why to present one’s self as traumatized are separate processes. This paper, based on two ethnographic research projects conducted in the Moria camp-Greece (2020-2021) and in Paris and Berlin, following refugees’ lives after the Greek/EU border camps (2021-2024), focuses on the psychologization of the camp experience. We argue that the institutional, legal and interactional frameworks and processes inherent in the Greek hotspots not only engender trauma but are also part of resocialization processes through which the hotspots’ residents, or camped, learn to present themselves to other actors within the camp through the lens of their mental illnesses. These psychologization processes persist and are reinforced in their post-camp lives. Depuis l’adoption de la logique des hotspots dans l’UE, Le débat public et scientifique s’est concentré sur les problèmes de santé mentale et les « traumatismes » causés par les conditions de vie dans les hotspots grecs, connus pour leurs conditions de vie difficiles et l’exposition quotidienne à diverses formes de violence. Cependant, vivre un traumatisme ou avoir une maladie mentale et reconnaître que l’on est traumatisé, ou apprendre quand, comment et pourquoi se présenter comme traumatisé sont des processus distincts. Cet article, basé sur deux projets de recherche ethnographique menés dans le camp de Moria en Grèce (2020-2021) et à Paris et Berlin, suivant la vie des réfugiés après les camps frontaliers grecs/européens (2021-2024), s’intéresse sur la psychologisation de l’expérience du camp. Nous soutenons que les cadres et processus institutionnels, juridiques et interactionnels inhérents aux hotspots grecs non seulement engendrent des traumatismes, mais font également partie des processus de resocialisation par lesquels les résidents des hotspots, ou les encampées, apprennent à se présenter aux autres acteurs du camp à travers le prisme de leurs maladies mentales. Ces processus de psychologisation persistent et se renforcent dans leur vie après le camp. |
| collection |
OpenEdition Journal |
| language |
Anglais |
| format |
Article ou chapitre numérique |
| building |
0/Bibliothèque numérique/ 1/Bibliothèque numérique/OpenEdition Journals/ |
| topic |
socialisation frontière psychologisation hotspots européens vulnérabilité border vulnerability psychologization socialization european hotspots |
| spellingShingle |
socialisation frontière psychologisation hotspots européens vulnérabilité border vulnerability psychologization socialization european hotspots Koutsioumpa, Eleftheria-Elith Learning Trauma? Psychologization of the Camp Experience in the Greek Border Hotspots |
| description |
Since the implementation of the hotspot logic in the EU, the public and scientific discussion has thus focused on the mental health problems and the “trauma” produced by the Greek hotspots’ conditions, characterized by harsh living conditions and daily exposure to diverse forms of violence. However, experiencing trauma or having a mental illness and understanding that one is traumatized or learning when, how and why to present one’s self as traumatized are separate processes. This paper, based on two ethnographic research projects conducted in the Moria camp-Greece (2020-2021) and in Paris and Berlin, following refugees’ lives after the Greek/EU border camps (2021-2024), focuses on the psychologization of the camp experience. We argue that the institutional, legal and interactional frameworks and processes inherent in the Greek hotspots not only engender trauma but are also part of resocialization processes through which the hotspots’ residents, or camped, learn to present themselves to other actors within the camp through the lens of their mental illnesses. These psychologization processes persist and are reinforced in their post-camp lives. |
| author |
Koutsioumpa, Eleftheria-Elith |
| author_facet |
Koutsioumpa, Eleftheria-Elith |
| author_sort |
Koutsioumpa, Eleftheria-Elith |
| title |
Learning Trauma? Psychologization of the Camp Experience in the Greek Border Hotspots |
| title_short |
Learning Trauma? Psychologization of the Camp Experience in the Greek Border Hotspots |
| title_full |
Learning Trauma? Psychologization of the Camp Experience in the Greek Border Hotspots |
| title_fullStr |
Learning Trauma? Psychologization of the Camp Experience in the Greek Border Hotspots |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Learning Trauma? Psychologization of the Camp Experience in the Greek Border Hotspots |
| title_sort |
learning trauma? psychologization of the camp experience in the greek border hotspots |
| publisher |
e-Migrinter |
| publishDate |
2026 |
| container_title |
URI:https://journals.openedition.org/e-migrinter |
| url |
https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://doi.org/10.4000/15gvo https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://journals.openedition.org/e-migrinter/5214 |
| _version_ |
1877291821482115072 |