Collective Trauma and the Social Construction of Meaning

Frontiers in Psychology
Gilad Hirschberger

Abstract

Collective trauma is a cataclysmic event that shatters the basic fabric of society. Aside from the horrific loss of life, collective trauma is also a crisis of meaning. The current paper systematically delineates the process that begins with a collective trauma, transforms into a collective memory, and culminates in a system of meaning that allows groups to redefine who they are and where they are going. For victims, the memory of trauma may be adaptive for group survival, but also elevates existential threat, which prompts a search for meaning, and the construction of a trans-generational collective self. For perpetrators, the memory of trauma poses a threat to collective identity that may be addressed by denying history, minimizing culpability for wrongdoing, transforming the memory of the event, closing the door on history, or accepting responsibility. The acknowledgment of responsibility often comes with disidentification from the group. The dissonance between historical crimes and the need to uphold a positive image of the group may be resolved, however, in another manner; it may prompt the creation of a new group narrative that acknowledges the crime and uses it as a backdrop to accentuate the current positive actions of ...Continue Reading

References

Dec 26, 2001·Annual Review of Psychology·Naomi EllemersBertjan Doosje
Oct 11, 2002·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Rodolfo Mendoza-DentonJanina Pietrzak
Sep 11, 2003·American Journal of Epidemiology·Sandro GaleaDean Kilpatrick
Jun 3, 2005·The New England Journal of Medicine·Robert Jay Lifton
Dec 22, 2005·The British Journal of Social Psychology·James H Liu, Denis J Hilton
Mar 4, 2006·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Tom PyszczynskiDavid Weise
Mar 16, 2006·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Vivian L VignolesEugenia Scabini
Jun 2, 2006·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Emanuele Castano, Roger Giner-Sorolla
Jun 14, 2006·Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·Steven J HeineKathleen D Vohs
Feb 22, 2007·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Baljinder Sahdra, Michael Ross
Jul 25, 2007·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Colin Wayne LeachManuela Barreto
May 29, 2008·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Michael J A Wohl, Nyla R Branscombe
Aug 18, 2009·Clinical Psychology Review·Brett T LitzShira Maguen
May 24, 2011·The British Journal of Social Psychology·Olivier KleinSabrina Pierucci
Jun 7, 2011·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Sabina Cehajić-ClancyLee D Ross
Feb 23, 2012·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Nicolay GauselRupert Brown
Mar 31, 2012·Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·Masi NoorArie Nadler
Sep 15, 2017·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Dennis T KahnSonia Roccas

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 8, 2020·Stress and Health : Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress·Dana Rose Garfin
Jun 27, 2020·Family Process·Marlene F WatsonRuben Parra-Cardona
Jan 12, 2021·Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology : the Official Journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America·Xuan Qin, Lisheng Song
Mar 3, 2021·Academic Psychiatry : the Journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry·Kimberly S Resnick, Joseph J Fins
Aug 28, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Lisa MatosIsabel Leal
Nov 4, 2021·Southern Medical Journal·William Ventres, Erick Messias
May 14, 2021·Qualitative Health Research·B Liahnna StanleySophia Town

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions : Official Journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions
Samuel Butman
Southern Medical Journal
C L Best, D W Smith
Second Opinion : Health, Faith, and Ethics
J Carter
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved