Psychological Toughness of Resistance Fighters: The Palestinian Experience
Y. Zahran, M. BacklehIntroduction
Under prolonged occupation, psychological toughness emerges not only as an individual trait but as a collective form of resistance essential for survival and identity. In the Palestinian context, resistance fighters show remarkable resilience despite imprisonment, repression, and trauma. This endurance is cultivated through cultural, social, and political frameworks that transform suffering into strength.
This study explores the socio-political and psychological foundations of such toughness, situated it between lived experience and liberation struggles. By contrasting fighters with non-combatants, it reveals unique coping strategies developed under direct oppression. Using liberation psychology emphasizing dignity, memory, and collective struggle, while also engaging Western resilience theories, the research bridges global psychology with the Palestinian condition.
Objectives
(1) Identify psychological, social, and political factors enhancing toughness; (2) Analyze trauma response differences between fighters and non-combatants; (3) Explore the role of identity and meaning; (4) Propose strategies for civilian resilience-building.
Methods
This study employed a qualitative design integrating liberation psychology with Kobasa’s hardiness model. In-depth interviews with former Palestinian prisoners were thematically analyzed. Based on the findings, a new six-dimension tool (Resistance Psychological Toughness Scale) was developed, which measures: (1) continued resistance, (2) non-submission, (3) breakdown frequency, (4) trauma’s impact on functioning, (5) trauma-induced disorders, and (6) value changes.
Results
Table 1 summarizes the study’s key findings, highlighting core themes, quotations, and their functions from interviews with resistance fighters. The quotations reflect participants’ voices, while the functions show how their words translate into lived realities.
Core Themes, Quotations, and Functions from Interviews with Resistance Fighters Table 1. Long description.