WHAT ARE THE PSYCHIC AND FINANCIAL COSTS OF LIVING IN THE NUCLEAR AGE?
Growing Up in the Nuclear Age: Psychological Development in the Face of Uncertainty Neal Halfon, MD A b s t r a c t The psychological development of children growing up in the nuclear age is currently the subject of much discussion. A review of the literature confirms that nuclear war is on the minds of many children, but while this undoubtedly has psychological consequences, the exact nature of those consequences remains unclear. The changing social world of the child presents children with a variety of challenges and stresses. The “nuclear variable” represents only one of many challenges facing the modern child. Children are not immune to the political process that surrounds the nuclear arms debate; their involvement in this political process is critically reviewed. Support for children attempting to understand this complex issue will benefit from the application of the principles of cognitive developmental psychology, so that communication with children can be cognitively relevant a
