Despite the widespread acknowledgement that the needs of those affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland are complex and enduring, there is relatively little empirical scrutiny of these issues in the psychological literature. This is not to say that individuals' needs have been overlooked entirely in this context; rather, we argue that the underlying theoretical focus is somewhat variable. To this end, we have used illustrative examples from the social psychological literature, as well as policy documents, to examine the applicability of needs-based theoretical models in social psychology in this context, focusing particularly on 'affirmative' and 'certainty' needs. This review reveals some of the complexities that emerged with the application of needs-based theoretical models to the nonnormative contexts of peace transition in Northern Ireland. This paper suggests some potential challenges to the static notion of victims' needs in this context and suggests a potential avenue for future research.
IntroductionNeeds-based theoretical models have been used to explain the range of universal needs experienced by individuals and/or groups of individuals, as well as the difficulties that arise from the frustration of these needs. In this article, we will apply a needs-based model to the literature which exists on victims of the conflict in Northern Ireland (NI), and in doing so, we will suggest one potential avenue for the integration of existing literature and the application to future research. We will firstly provide a brief outline of needs-based theories in the social psychological literature. Secondly, focusing on the Meaning Maintenance Model (MMM), we will discuss how two particular needs outlined in the model apply to the social psychological literature in NI. Following this, we will provide examples from the literature to illustrate the interconnectedness of victims' needs in the context of NI. Finally, we will suggest a potential avenue for future research based on observations from the literature, brought into relief through the application of a needs-based model.The conflict in NI, known colloquially as 'The Troubles', was fought between Loyalist and Republican paramilitary forces and the British state. Over a 30-year period, over 3700 individuals were killed and infinitely more were injured as a result