Rebuilding Shattered Assumptions after Traumatic Life Events

Mapping Intimacies ◽

10.1093/med:psych/9780195119343.003.0014 ◽

2015 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ronnie Janoff-Bulman

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Cognitive Strategies ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Automatic Processes ◽

Traumatic Life Events ◽

Coping Processes ◽

Shattered Assumptions

This chapter discusses coping processes in the context of traumatic life events that discredit previously held assumptions. It outlines fundamental assumptions, the ways by which traumatic experiences can shatter assumptions, coping processes to rebuild assumptions (automatic processes, and motivated cognitive strategies), and the legacy of tempered disillusionment and appreciation that traumatic experiences can cause.

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Comparing the Role of Aberrant Salience and Dissociation in the Relation between Cumulative Traumatic Life Events and Psychotic-Like Experiences in a Multi-Ethnic Sample

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm8081223 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. 1223

Author(s):

Deidre M. Anglin ◽

Adriana Espinosa ◽

Bassem Barada ◽

Rona Tarazi ◽

Ashley Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emerging Adults ◽

Life Events ◽

Self Report ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Dissociative Experiences ◽

Traumatic Life Events ◽

Psychosis Risk ◽

Aberrant Salience ◽

Mediation Models

Exposure to traumatic life events (TLE) is a risk factor for psychosis. Yet, a dearth of studies examines factors linking TLE to psychosis, while considering differences in TLE frequency. This study investigated dissociation and aberrant salience as mediators and moderators of the relation between three TLE groups (none, 1–3 TLE and 4+ TLE) and psychotic-like experiences (PLE) in a multi-ethnic sample of 816 emerging adults. The participants completed self-report inventories of PLE (Prodromal Questionnaire), TLE (Life Events Checklist), dissociative experiences (Dissociative Symptoms Scale), and aberrant salience (Aberrant Salience Inventory). As expected, groups with higher TLE frequency endorsed higher PLE. Parallel mediation models indicated that, while aberrant salience mediated the relation between both levels of cumulative traumatic experiences (1–3 TLE and 4+ TLE) and PLE, dissociation only mediated the relation between exposure to at least four different traumatic experiences and PLE. The moderation results showed that risk of PLE was highest among individuals with 1–3 TLE who endorsed dissociation. Our results suggest that, while aberrant salience processing explains why TLE may relate to higher psychosis risk, dissociation’s role in this relation is dependent on the number of different TLE exposures.

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The association between psychotic experiences and traumatic life events: the role of the intention to harm

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291717003762 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (13) ◽

pp. 2235-2246 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Tais Silveira Moriyama ◽

Marjan Drukker ◽

Ary Gadelha ◽

Pedro Mario Pan ◽

Giovanni Abrahão Salum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Positive Association ◽

Parent Report ◽

Self Report ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Psychotic Experiences ◽

Child Exposure ◽

Traumatic Life Events ◽

Exposure To Trauma

AbstractBackgroundPrevious work showed traumatic life events (TLE) with intention to harm, like bullying and abuse, to be more strongly associated with psychotic experiences (PE) than other types of trauma, like accidents. However, this association is subject to reporting bias and can be confounded by demographic characteristics and by differences in dose of exposure across different trauma categories. We studied the association between TLE with and without intention to harm and PE, taking into account potential confounders and biases.MethodsA total of 2245 children and adolescents aged 6–14 years were interviewed by psychologists. The interview included the presence of 20 PE (both self-report and psychologist evaluation). In addition, parents provided information on child exposure to trauma, mental health and PE.ResultsResults showed no significant association between TLE without intention to harm only and PE for the three methods of assessment of PE (self-report, parent report and psychologist rating). On the other hand, there was a positive association between PE and TLE in groups exposed to traumatic experiences with intention to harm (with intention to harm only and with and without intention to harm). Results remained significant after controlling for demographic and clinical confounders, but this positive association was no longer significant after adjusting for the number of TLE.ConclusionsTLE with intention to harm display a stronger association with PE than TLE without intention to harm, and this difference is likely reducible to a greater level of traumatic exposure associated with TLE with intention to harm.

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Assessing Guilt After Traumatic Events

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000071 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 251-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Noemí Pereda ◽

Mila Arch ◽

Maribel Peró ◽

Joan Guàrdia ◽

Maria Forns

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Factor Model ◽

Internal Validity ◽

Brief Symptom Inventory ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Psychology Research ◽

Traumatic Life Events ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Original Scale ◽

High Level

Introduction: The assessment of feelings of guilt has become an important area of psychology research, although few specific tools for their evaluation have been designed to date. One of the instruments available is the Trauma-Related Guilt Inventory (TRGI; Kubany & Haynes, 2001 ), which assesses the cognitive and emotional components of the feelings of guilt that arise following traumatic experiences. Method: We analyzed data from a sample of 650 university students aged between 18.0 and 30.6 years (M = 21.71; SD = 2.63), using the TRGI, the Brief Symptom Inventory ( Derogatis, 1993 ), and the Distressing Event Questionnaire ( Kubany, 2001 ). Results: The proposed adaptation of the TRGI to a Spanish population demonstrated more than satisfactory criterion validity. A three-factor model from a confirmatory factor analysis was tested, and the factor structure of the original scale was confirmed by an exceptionally high level of internal validity. Discussion: Our results show that the TRGI is an effective tool for assessing guilt after traumatic life events in the Spanish-speaking context.

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The Duality of Human Experience: Perspectives From Psychosocial Adaptation to Chronic Illness and Disability—Historical Views and Theoretical Models

Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin ◽

10.1177/0034355218800790 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 67-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hanoch Livneh ◽

Brian T. McMahon ◽

Phillip D. Rumrill

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Personal Growth ◽

Theoretical Models ◽

Human Experience ◽

Psychosocial Adaptation ◽

Chronic Illnesses ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Traumatic Life Events ◽

Human Functioning ◽

Life Threatening

This article examines the current views on the duality of the human experience as portrayed within the process of coping with and managing traumatic life events, with a special emphasis on those views associated with the onset, or diagnosis, of chronic illnesses and disabilities (CID). In this article, experiential dualities are reviewed with a focus on (a) broadly defined modes of psychosocial adaptation to CID, such as coping versus succumbing, and disabled versus nondisabled selves; (b) models of denial, which often dichotomize its structure as reflecting complete or major versus partial or minor denial; and (c) models of personal growth following adversity and traumatic events, such as the onset or diagnosis of severe and life-threatening CID. Focus is placed on the dualities that dichotomize human functioning following traumatic experiences, along such categories as genuine or transcendent growth versus self-deception or illusory growth.

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Understanding Why Older People Develop a Wish to Die

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000078 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 204-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

M. L. Rurup ◽

H. R. W. Pasman ◽

J. Goedhart ◽

D. J. H. Deeg ◽

A. J. F. M. Kerkhof ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Life Events ◽

Traumatic Life Events ◽

Quantitative Studies ◽

Wish To Die ◽

Open Coding ◽

Death Wishes ◽

Depth Interviews

Background: Quantitative studies in several European countries showed that 10–20% of older people have or have had a wish to die. Aims: To improve our understanding of why some older people develop a wish to die. Methods: In-depth interviews with people with a wish to die (n = 31) were carried out. Through open coding and inductive analysis, we developed a conceptual framework to describe the development of death wishes. Respondents were selected from two cohort studies. Results: The wish to die had either been triggered suddenly after traumatic life events or had developed gradually after a life full of adversity, as a consequence of aging or illness, or after recurring depression. The respondents were in a situation they considered unacceptable, yet they felt they had no control to change their situation and thus progressively “gave up” trying. Recurring themes included being widowed, feeling lonely, being a victim, being dependent, and wanting to be useful. Developing thoughts about death as a positive thing or a release from problems seemed to them like a way to reclaim control. Conclusions: People who wish to die originally develop thoughts about death as a positive solution to life events or to an adverse situation, and eventually reach a balance of the wish to live and to die.

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