L'umanità contro se stessa: tradizione e innovazione nell'immagine del nemico

The paper reports results of our studies on the social representation of the enemy both in adults and children. A study carried out on 100 25- to 55- year-olds indicated that the image of the enemy connected to the concept of war presents itself only at the most immediate level of representation, such as the one expressed by free associations. By a more elaborated talking level, the enemy's image is configurated as a widespread danger of a damage involving the whole humanity. A further study analysed verbal and iconic productions concerning the enemy in 210 children (7, 10, 12 years). Results indicate that 7-year-olds represent the enemy as personalized and fantastic, whereas 10- and 12-year-olds represent the enemy as impersonal and abstract, not related to war but to other collective problems, such as drugs and pollution.