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1 results

  • 7 - Trauma, Personal and Political Growth and Change

  • Orla T. Muldoon, University of Limerick
  • Book:
    The Social Psychology of Trauma
    Published online:
    04 April 2024
    Print publication:
    11 April 2024, pp 140-159
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  • Summary

    This chapter considers the role of social identities in processing, responding to and recovering from traumatic experiences. Two possible mechanisms are outlined. The first is that trauma reveals the value of existing social identities, which drives post-traumatic growth. The second relates to the sense of connection that can emerge amongst victims of trauma that allows new social identities to develop. Where collective post-traumatic growth occurs, people can develop insight, or collective consciousness, into how their traumatic experiences are tied to their group membership. This understanding of the systematic and patterned nature of trauma not only enables connections between those affected but also facilitates resistance to problematic and oppressive systems and structures. This chapter concludes by highlighting the potential for trauma, because of its identity-based consequences, to be a force for positive social change.