DOWNLOAD MY CLASSNOTES IN PDF: PP 12 Post Traumatic Growth
One of the criticisms of positive psychology (PP) by ‘outsiders’ is that it is like positive thinking. It is one-sided, attempting to forget or run away from the negative dimensions of life. This is not a fair criticism of PP. As Barbara Fredrickson has acknowledged negative experiences are like the keel to the ship, and positivity is the sail. On the other hand, positivity not only improves our general wellbeing but offers the possibility to make sense out of our negative experiences.
Lectures 10 and 11 focus on the positive outcome of negative experience. Here we examine Post-traumatic Growth. In brief, when trauma is transformed the outcome is wisdom.
A Simple Reading: Positive Changes Following Adversity
Other key texts:
Tedeshi, R.G., & Calhoun, L.G. (2004). Posttraumatic Growth: Conceptual Foundation and Empirical Evidence. Philadelphia, PA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Linley, P.A. and Joseph, S. (2004). Positive Change Following Trauma and Adversity: A Review. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 17, 11–21