Can people experience post-traumatic growth after committing violent acts?

Blackie, Laura E.R.; Roepke, Ann Marie; Hitchcott, Nicki; Joseph, Stephen

Abstract

The concept of post-traumatic growth refers to the positive psychological changes that some people experience as a result of their struggle with highly stressful and often traumatic circumstances. Research into post-traumatic growth has typically focused on survivors of violent victimisation or other uncontrollable and tragic circumstances. However, emerging research into service members in the armed forces has shown that post-traumatic growth can also occur in this population. We synthesise existing research to propose a preliminary model outlining the psychosocial processes that may facilitate post-traumatic growth among people who have perpetrated acts of violence. We end by discussing some of the important questions that future theoretical and empirical work will need to address.

Citation

Blackie, L. E., Roepke, A. M., Hitchcott, N., & Joseph, S. (2016). Can people experience post-traumatic growth after committing violent acts?. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 22(4), 409-412. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000218

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 27, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2016
• Publication Date: Sep 13, 2016
• Deposit Date: Sep 14, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 14, 2016
• Journal: Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology
• Print ISSN: 1078-1919
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-7949
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 409-412
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000218
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/818039
• Publisher URL: http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=search.displayrecord&uid=2016-41525-001
• Additional Information: Accepted for publication in Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. Published by American Psychological Association and Taylor & Francis (Routledge). This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record. A link to the published article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pac0000218
• Contract Date: Sep 14, 2016