This study investigated the concepts of peace and war in Brazil, and the presence of asymmetry among peace, war, and violence. Sixty-one children and sixty-three adolescents were interviewed about the definition of peace or war in Brazil; causes of peace and war; reasons for choosing peace over war; and strategies pro-peace, against war, and against violence. The asymmetry hypothesis was confirmed only in children's answers. War in Brazil was defined as violence, conflict of interests, and demand; Brazilian peace, as absence of violence, absence of individual war, positive emotions, humanitarian attitudes, and friendship. Children presented difficulties on the definitions of peace and war in Brazil, presenting a large number of unclassifiable answers. Older participants preferred prescriptive strategies. This study may contribute to the development of peace education programs that takes into account the influence of war and violence ideas on the conceptualization of peace.
Peace psychology; War; Violence; Asymmetry
