Colonialism: Psychological Trauma and its Enduring Impact

Feiyu Lin

Frantz Fanon, a doctor, and revolutionary thinker, showed the serious psychological consequences of colonialism in his famous essay, “The Wretched of the Earth”. By researching real-life incidents from the Algerian War of Independence, Fanon investigated how colonial brutality caused severe psychological wounds in both the colonized and the colonizers. He said colonialism is more than just a system of material exploitation and oppression,  it is naturally violent and causes severe psychological trauma. Colonialism, by dehumanizing brutality and institutional oppression, inflicts long-term psychological scars on all participants, including both oppressors and victims (Fanon, On Violence). This paper will look at two particular case studies from “The Wretched of the Earth”, discussing how Fanon exploited mental illnesses to highlight colonialism’s essential abuse. Drawing on the central themes of the “On Violence” chapter, the study will investigate how colonialism damages mental health and its larger societal consequences. Finally, the debate will link Fanon’s insights to contemporary challenges such as societal prejudice and the psychological impacts of modern warfare, emphasizing the concepts’ enduring relevance and significance in today’s society.

One story that clearly depicts the psychological effect of colonial brutality is that of B, an Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) member, and his wife. B’s wife endured horrific treatment, including sexual assault, while in control. Her mother encouraged her to tell her husband about the incidents. However, the discovery had a significant impact on their relationship. While in the Intensive Care B described his emotional detachment from his wife and said that efforts at closeness triggered vivid memories of her assault. He also ripped up a photograph of his little daughter, a conduct Fanon associated with deep-seated worries, maybe including unconscious anxiety. B struggled with internal turmoil, detached between gratitude for his wife’s bravery throughout the war—she went through immense suffering to protect him—and the guilt and sorrow this caused. Despite their decision to restart their lives together when Algeria attained independence, B was overcome by uncertainty, knowing that recovering from such profound pain would take time.

This instance demonstrates the gendered nature of violence, with women frequently experiencing separate and compounded types of suffering, such as sexual assault. It also exhibits intergenerational trauma, in which children carry emotional wounds from colonial brutality, continuing cycles of instability and hatred. Fanon underscores that challenging the colonial world is  “not a rational confrontation of viewpoints,” but an impassioned struggle deeply rooted in the colonized’s fundamental experience of oppression (Fanon, On Violence).

Another remarkable example he gives is of a French colonial police officer who demonstrates excessive paranoia and unrestrained aggressiveness. His violent outbursts target not just the colonized but also his own family, exposing profound emotional problems and moral struggles.  The officer’s anxiety originates from his duty as an enforcer of colonial power, which frequently involves using cruel interrogation tactics to retain control over the colonized people. Operating in a hostile atmosphere, he gets overwhelmed with distrust and dread, which exacerbates his aggressive impulses. His aggressiveness toward his family demonstrates how the systematic violence he commits outside affects his personal connections, showing the colonizer’s moral and psychological breakdown. Fanon uses this example to illustrate that colonial institutions harm both the oppressed and their oppressors. The practice of methodically taking over others undermines the colonists’ humanity. In this case, the officer’s anxiety and aggressiveness are symptoms of a deeper moral corruption caused by the colonial system. Fanon underlines that colonialism is a double-edged sword: it causes psychological suffering for the victims while deeply eroding the moral fabric of the colonizers(Fanon, On Violence). This instance illustrates Fanon’s primary thesis: colonialism is inevitably demeaning and damaging to everyone involved.

Fanon’s examination of colonial brutality in “The Wretched of the Earth” provides understanding on the psychological implications of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Similar to the colonial regimes Fanon criticizes, the ongoing violence in this region has a significant impact on both people and communities. Military operations, forcible evictions, and blockades create an atmosphere of widespread fear and instability, increasing psychological suffering. The impacts of displacement, loss, and generational trauma on Palestinians reflect Fanon’s description of dehumanization. Everyday experiences like humiliation at checkpoints, restricted movement, and home demolitions intensify emotions of helplessness and communal rage. These realities support Fanon’s claim that colonial aggression deprives people of their agency and identity.

A 2022 World Bank research indicated that more than half of adult Palestinians were depressed, with 71% in the Gaza Strip and 58% in the Israeli-occupied West Bank (Rajvanshi, 2024). These data demonstrate the severity of the mental health problems caused by systemic violence. Fanon’s idea of colonial violence as cyclical and self-perpetuating is relevant here, as the pain inflicted on Palestinians not only separates communities but also drives future conflict.

Frantz Fanon’s “The Wretched of the Eart” exposes the psychological damage of colonialism on both oppressors and victims. Through vivid case studies, he highlights systemic violence’s dehumanizing effects and its cyclical nature, and his insights remain relevant today, providing a framework to address modern conflicts and the enduring scars of oppression.

Work Cited

Fanon, F. (2004). The wretched of the earth (R. Philcox, Trans.; J.-P. Sartre & H. K. Bhabha, Commentary). Grove Press. (Original work published 1961).

Rajvanshi, A. (2024, February 27). The mental health toll of the war in Gaza. TIME. https://time.com/6835665/palestinian-mental-health-war-israel-hamas/