A theory on reports of constructive (real) and illusory posttraumatic growth

Boerner, Michaela; Joseph, Stephen; Murphy, David

Abstract

It has been suggested that self-reported posttraumatic growth could sometimes be considered as a way for people to protect themselves from the distress of trauma. In this case, reports of posttraumatic growth could be illusory. We suggest a theory on self-reported constructive (real) posttraumatic growth and illusory posttraumatic growth by using Rogers’s (1959) theory and the work by Vaillant (1995). Through this theoretical framework we attempt to explain when reports of posttraumatic growth are likely to be constructive and real and when such reports are likely to represent aspects of illusions. We will also consider the implications for research practice.

Citation

Boerner, M., Joseph, S., & Murphy, D. (in press). A theory on reports of constructive (real) and illusory posttraumatic growth. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167817719597

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 2, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jul 9, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 20, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 9, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Humanistic Psychology
• Print ISSN: 0022-1678
• Electronic ISSN: 1552-650X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167817719597
• Keywords: trauma, posttraumatic growth, illusions, defensiveness, well-being, person centered, growth
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/871852
• Publisher URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/aQaYvrBIUugwUnNBEUZk/full
• Additional Information: DOI not working 12/07/2017
• Contract Date: Jun 20, 2017