A psychological analysis of Iran's military engagement in the Twelve-Day War: Editorial

Taghva, Arsia

doi:10.22034/27.2.5

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Volume 27, Issue 2 (7-2025)

EBNESINA 2025, 27(2): 5-10

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A psychological analysis of Iran's military engagement in the Twelve-Day War: Editorial

Arsia Taghva ^*

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , drarsiataghva@irimed.org

Keywords: -

Full-Text [PDF 1193 kb] (73 Downloads) | Abstract (HTML) (173 Views)

Type of Study: Editorial | Subject: Disaster Medicine
Revised: 2025/09/30 | Accepted: 2025/07/23 | Published: 2025/07/23

Extended Abstract: (103 Views)

Beyond its tactical and strategic dimensions, any military conflict can also be analyzed as a psychosocial event. The Twelve-Day War against Iran (13 June – 24 June 2025) offered a unique opportunity to examine the short- and long-term psychological effects of such crises on Iranian society.
A key mechanism for coping with anxiety in cognitive psychology is the “sense of control”. Iran’s military operations, to some extent, reinforced this “sense of agency” within society. This perception helps mitigate uncontrolled and unproductive anxiety in the face of threats [1]. The positive psychological impact includes a reduction in feelings of defenselessness against external threats and a general decrease in collective anxiety. According to the “perceived control theory”, individuals who believe they can influence their environment are less prone to stress-related disorders. Thus, the conflict, as a "controlling event," may have served a positive psychological function at the collective level.
Additionally, external crises often trigger the “common enemy effect” or “in-group cohesion” in social psychology, fostering greater collective unity [2]. During the Twelve-Day War, Iranian society exhibited heightened solidarity, cooperation, and empathy in public spaces, reinforcing national identity as a psychological defense mechanism.
While this solidarity may diminish over time, the “collective stress” induced during the conflict remains significant. Research indicates that even short-term conflicts, when accompanied by existential threats, can provoke post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in vulnerable individuals—even without direct exposure to violence [3]. High-risk groups include children and adolescents (particularly among those with a history of domestic family conflicts or psychological trauma), individuals with pre-existing anxiety disorders, and families with war-related trauma (e.g., survivors of Iran–Iraq War). Symptoms such as insomnia, war-related nightmares, obsessive media consumption (doomscrolling, zombie scrolling, and social media addiction), and heightened tension in familial and workplace relationships are common in these populations [4]. The collective stress model further suggests that indirect factors, like intense media coverage and military threats, can induce vicarious trauma, especially in societies with a collective memory of war [5].
Children and the elderly require special attention during such crises. Children, lacking the cognitive tools to process war’s harsh realities, may exhibit symptoms like insomnia, nightmares, bedwetting, social withdrawal, boredom, or loss of appetite. Parents must interpret these behaviors through the lens of their children’s fears rather than their own [6].
The media and social networks played a dual role during the conflict. On one hand, they bolstered hope and resilience through positive messaging. On the other, the spread of anecdotes, exaggerations, and alarming imagery fueled information anxiety—a state of information overload where excessive information hampers mental processing and critical thinking [7]. This environment risks fostering collective thought conformity and exacerbating anxiety or obsessive-compulsive tendencies, even among those far from physical danger. However, segments of society that actively debunked rumors demonstrated resilience against psychological warfare [8].
The long-term psychological outcome hinges on post-crisis management. Structured psychological rehabilitation programs can enhance collective resilience and reduce chronic PTSD risks. Conversely, neglect may transform temporary stress into pervasive anxiety, increase psychosomatic illnesses, and erode public trust if official narratives diverge from lived realities [9].
From a psychological standpoint, the Twelve-Day War was both an opportunity to strengthen Iran’s psychosocial capital and a stark reminder of its latent vulnerabilities. Military crises can catalyze effective psychological interventions, provided they are met with structured programs. Media and educational institutions must prioritize stress management and psychological rehabilitation. Public discourse should also accommodate genuine anxieties, serving as a therapeutic outlet.
Modern wars are won not only on battlefields but also in the minds of societies [10]. True victory is achieved when mental health is recognized as a cornerstone of national security infrastructure.

Conflict of Interest

Author declared no conflict of interest.

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Taghva A. A psychological analysis of Iran's military engagement in the Twelve-Day War: Editorial. EBNESINA 2025; 27 (2) :5-10
URL: http://ebnesina.ajaums.ac.ir/article-1-1420-en.html

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