Psychology Of Adjustment, Community Adjustment To Trauma - Case Study Example

Psychology of Adjustment, Community Adjustment to Trauma Student Name Course/Number Date Instructor Name Introduction Residents of Aurora, Colorado have been trying very hard to shed memories of the 2012 Colorado shooting. The issue might have died down in the mainstream media but the devastating effects are still visible among the city residents. Close to three years later, the victims are yet to receive any psychological assistance to help them get over the trauma suffered during the event. It seems all intervention efforts went towards ensuring the victims’ physical well-being while relegating the psychological needs to the background. In this paper, the discussions will center mainly on the alternative interventions the stakeholders would have applied to deal with the resulting psychological trauma. A brief summary of the 2012 Colorado shooting July 20, 2012 will forever remain a tragic day to many residents of Aurora, Colorado and beyond. It was the day the movie “The Dark Knight Rises” was to premier and anxious viewers had gathered at the Century 16 Theater eager to catch this new release. However, what was to be a fun-filled night quickly turned disastrous. A lone gunman, armed with an assorted range of heavy artillery, stormed the theater shortly after midnight. For no apparent reason, he began shooting indiscriminately at the crowd. By the time the guns went silent, twelve people lay dead while fifty eight critically injured. The incident prompted quick emergency response from the police and public. Towards this end, priority went to the transportation of the survivors to nearest health facilities before cordoning off the area for investigations (Tan, 2013). The health facilities received widespread acclamation for coming up with ingenious emergency strategies which kept the fatalities at the bare minimum. The impact of the shooting event on residents Fear In the aftermath of the shooting, many residents had to suspend public engagements. Only when it was absolutely necessary did they venture out. Most seem to prefer the comfort of their homes to public events. However, the case was extremely exaggerated for those that frequented theaters. In their minds, they thought they were very lucky not to have been present in the theater at the time of the shooting. Otherwise, they would have had similar fates as the survivors or even the twelve that lost their lives. As a result, there have been growing concerns about the violence depicted in not only action movies but also music and video games (ROSENBERG, 2014). Many would love to see the violent themes dealt with in the near future as it could be fanning violence in the society. Altered lifestyles and entertainment preferences In a sad coincidence, the shooting fell on the same day as the unveiling of the latest release of a batman movie. The movie, which has extremely violent scenes, mirrored the violence witnessed during the event. As result, theaters in the city and all over the United States had to reschedule the subsequent screenings. This was a deliberate attempt to allow the prospective audience time to heal from the resulting trauma (Lindeque, 2012). In terms of psychology, the theaters could not have devised any better strategy. The decision perfectly addressed the situation. In psychological studies, trauma victims are known to experience the initial trauma long after the particular event in question is over. As a result, they always avoid any event that might trigger the trauma. In this case, the subsequent screenings would have seen low ticket sales. Not many would be willing to experience the violent scenes in the movie. Increased awareness on bullying The perpetrator of the shooting incident is reported to have been in unstable mental condition. There were even reports that he had been a victim of bullying as a child. Perhaps this could have been his way of venting the inferiority complex inflicted on him as a child. Shortly after the shooting, various media operators around the US had to interfere with normal broadcast schedule. Their program line ups consisted of anti-bullying campaigns. Not to be left behind were activists who pledged to educate others on the dark side of bullying. However, such efforts seem to have run out of steam. The campaigns no longer receive heightened attention as they did immediately after the shooting. Compassion In the morning after the attack, the US and the world in general awoke to disturbing news of the shooting. In the course of the day, messages of condolences to relatives of the dead trickled in with others pledging support to the survivors. Even presidents of foreign countries were not to be left behind. The event received worldwide condemnation. Furthermore, it also triggered kindness among the population. Many would call in to pledge support to the victims and it only goes to show the kind nature of the US citizens in times of disaster. Trauma and interventions The authorities, among other stakeholders, did not handle the Colorado shooting effectively. In psychological terms, very little was done to help the victims get over the event. All that every well wisher seemed to have been concerned with was offering material or emotional support. Very few actually went out of their way to assist victims get over the trauma. In fact, the authorities went ahead to issue a directive for people not to talk about the event. While this would have minimized the spreading of fear to others, it totally ignored the victims in terms of helping them get over the trauma. The following six steps could also have been used in efforts to help the victims recover from the trauma suffered as a result of the Colorado shooting: Trauma Recovery Integration This intervention borrows heavily from the addiction recovery process. It follows the renowned twelve steps in helping the victims get over trauma. The best way to address the issue would be in a group (Straussner & Calnan, 2014). In the case of Colorado shooting, all the survivors needed to have been put in a group to help one another recover under the guidance of experts. However, this did not happen. There have been very little efforts if any to assist victims get over the harrowing event. That is why many feared to venture out in the public even months after the ordeal. If not checked, the victims would turn into introverts who only associate with those around them. At the end of the twelve steps, the victims would be fit to rejoin the society without living in the backdrop of the shooting. Relationship model The relationship model would have helped the individuals forge better relationships in future. In the first instance, victims would most probably want to keep off those they perceive to be movie enthusiasts. This they would do to ensure such parties do not lead them to theaters among other places they associate with the trauma. In the second instance, they would also avoid those with similar characteristics to the gunman. The gunman was said to have been a quiet young man who was happened to be an enthusiastic of the batman fictional figure among other characters. Unless victims are assisted to see beyond such features, they would always be avoiding such characters. In the end, this would affect their relationships in future. The focus here is to ensure they do not dwell on the misfortune but rather aim at creating and sustaining better relationships (Hensel, Ruiz, Finney, & Dewa, 2015). Risk connection In the wake of the shooting, most Colorado residents preferred to keep low profiles away from the public. Furthermore, even theaters had to suspend screening the violent movie to allow the victims deal with the trauma. In this case, it is evident that the shooting seems to have had a direct impact on the lives of victims among others. However, this should not be the case. They need to carry on with otherwise. Otherwise, victims would always be on the lookout trying to avoid events or instances that could resurrect the traumatic experiences. But with the risk connection model, they would be in better positions to proceed with their lives as normal. Mentorships and support groups Another intervention strategy would be to have the victims visit counselors among other experts to whom they can talk freely. This should not be a one-time event but rather a continuous process where the experts would not only assist the victims get over the trauma but also monitor their progress (Quillman, 2013). In the course of time, the experts can recommend further intervention for the victims depending on their progress. However, this is only applicable to those with average to low impacts from the trauma. Discussion of relevant psychological literature In psychology, trauma is any negative emotion displayed towards past occurrences. It also extends to include reminders of such happenings. From this definition, trauma is not an event or an experience but rather the associated emotions which must also be negative. In other words, trauma is a stimulus produced by the brain and is linked to a particular event. This is where most people get it wrong. They tend to define trauma as an event as opposed to the emotions involved. There can be no psychological trauma in the absence of physical trauma. The latter most often leads to the former. Physical trauma might result from physical abuse, bullying, accident, domestic violence or aggression among many more others. However, this does not imply that only physical trauma is responsible for psychological trauma. There are other subtle abuses such as constant and unfair criticism which can also lead to psychological trauma (Winlow, 2014). In addition trauma is not always an automatic response that follows immediately after its causal event. It takes a little longer to develop this stimulus. To some it might be almost immediately after the event whereas others might take much longer to become traumatized. Similarly, a specific traumatizing ordeal might have varied different effects on individuals. Some might not even consider an event traumatizing while others might be heavily affected. All this is as a result of different coping mechanism various individuals possess. As mentioned before, most cases of trauma might manifest after an event is over. This is why it is always advisable to seek expert support after experiencing an event identified as traumatic. This way, the trauma can be arrested before developing further. As a result, the best way to treat trauma is by breaking the link between it and the event (Abrams & Shapiro, 2014). This is what experts in trauma management do. Since they are aware the victim will respond to an event in a certain way, they try to alter the sequence before finally doing away with the vice. Another strategy would be to approach trauma from an indirect perspective. In some cases, a trauma might be deeply embedded that it proves difficult to break the link with the causal event. In this case, the appropriate way would be to alter the meaning of the event to the victim. It is very clear that the events are the ones causing the emotional reaction in the victim. Therefore, it could be wise to try and alter the meaning of the emotion. The success of such an attempt would see the victim develop favorable emotions towards a specific event in question. Drawing links between the aftermath of the shooting incident and the literature The confusion surrounding the definition of trauma could possibly have played a big role in its handling. All the efforts went towards dealing with the physical effects manifested in the victims (Browne, Trim, Myers, & Norman, 2015). Perhaps the sympathizers thought they were dealing with the trauma, little did they know they were doing the exact opposite. However, all blame rests squarely with the psychological experts within the Colorado vicinity. It was their responsibility to ensure the victims received proper attention to deal with the trauma. They ought to have been at the forefront of the assistance guiding efforts dealing with the actual trauma. It has been discovered above that trauma checks in at different times for various victims. For most it might be immediately after an event while for others it might take longer. In this case, some victims might already be traumatized and are already receiving treatment. But this should not be an issue because it is perfectly normal. The cause for alarm should be those that were present during the shooting but are yet to display symptoms of trauma (Ogle, Rubin, & Siegler, 2014). Perhaps they are slowly breaking down and it is only a matter of time before the symptoms manifest. In recommendation, it would be best if all the survivors of the shooting ordeal received treatment for trauma. Otherwise, the trauma could manifest at a later date when it could be difficult to pin point its source. Perhaps this could have been the case with the shooting perpetrator. As a victim of bullying in his childhood, the anger could have been bottled deep within him for a long duration. It only came to the fore during the actual shooting which was many years later. Conclusion The 2012 Colorado shooting presented the perfect opportunity for a discussion on trauma to ensue. Though tragic, it provided highlights on the issue like no other single event had done. As a result, the entire world came together to show sympathy. However, the assistance only addressed the physical issues surrounding the shooting. Very little was done to deal with the trauma resulting from the shooting incident. However, the paper has thoroughly addressed this issue from various perspectives. What is important right now is to carry on with the implementation of the recommendations. References Abrams, J., & Shapiro, M. (2014). Teaching Trauma Theory and Practice in MSW Programs: A Clinically Focused, Case-Based Method. Clinical Social Work Journal, 42(4), 408-418. Doi: 10.1007/s10615-013-0472-z Browne, K. C., Trim, R. S., Myers, U. S., & Norman, S. B. (2015). Trauma-Related Guilt: Conceptual Development and Relationship with Posttraumatic Stress and Depressive Symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28(2), 134-141. doi:10.1002/jts.21999 Hensel, J. M., Ruiz, C., Finney, C., & Dewa, C. S. (2015). Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors for Secondary Traumatic Stress in Therapeutic Work with Trauma Victims. Journal Of Traumatic Stress, 28(2), 83-91. doi:10.1002/jts.21998 Lindeque, Bennie G. (2012). Reflections on the Aurora Mass Shooting. Orthopedics, 35(10): 835-6. Ogle, C. M., Rubin, D. C., & Siegler, I. C. (2014). Changes in Neuroticism Following Trauma Exposure. Journal of Personality, 82(2), 93-102. doi:10.1111/jopy.12037 Quillman, T. (2013). Treating Trauma through Three Interconnected Lenses: Body, Personality, and Intersubjective Field. Clinical Social Work Journal, 41(4), 356-365. Doi: 10.1007/s10615-012-0414-1 Straussner, S., & Calnan, A. (2014). Trauma through the Life Cycle: A Review of Current Literature. Clinical Social Work Journal, 42(4), 323-335.doi:10.1007/s10615-014-0496-z Tan, D. (2013). Deconstructing Aurora: How Hollywood Averted Cultural Backlash in the Face of National Tragedy. Yale Journal of Sociology, 1026-55. ROSENBERG, J. (2014). Mass Shootings and Mental Health Policy. Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare, 41(1), 107-121. Winlow, S. (2014). Trauma, guilt and the unconscious: some theoretical notes on violent subjectivity. Sociological Review, 6232-49. doi:10.1111/1467-954X.12190 Read More

The movie, which has extremely violent scenes, mirrored the violence witnessed during the event. As result, theaters in the city and all over the United States had to reschedule the subsequent screenings. This was a deliberate attempt to allow the prospective audience time to heal from the resulting trauma (Lindeque, 2012). In terms of psychology, the theaters could not have devised any better strategy. The decision perfectly addressed the situation. In psychological studies, trauma victims are known to experience the initial trauma long after the particular event in question is over.

As a result, they always avoid any event that might trigger the trauma. In this case, the subsequent screenings would have seen low ticket sales. Not many would be willing to experience the violent scenes in the movie. Increased awareness on bullying The perpetrator of the shooting incident is reported to have been in unstable mental condition. There were even reports that he had been a victim of bullying as a child. Perhaps this could have been his way of venting the inferiority complex inflicted on him as a child.

Shortly after the shooting, various media operators around the US had to interfere with normal broadcast schedule. Their program line ups consisted of anti-bullying campaigns. Not to be left behind were activists who pledged to educate others on the dark side of bullying. However, such efforts seem to have run out of steam. The campaigns no longer receive heightened attention as they did immediately after the shooting. Compassion In the morning after the attack, the US and the world in general awoke to disturbing news of the shooting.

In the course of the day, messages of condolences to relatives of the dead trickled in with others pledging support to the survivors. Even presidents of foreign countries were not to be left behind. The event received worldwide condemnation. Furthermore, it also triggered kindness among the population. Many would call in to pledge support to the victims and it only goes to show the kind nature of the US citizens in times of disaster. Trauma and interventions The authorities, among other stakeholders, did not handle the Colorado shooting effectively.

In psychological terms, very little was done to help the victims get over the event. All that every well wisher seemed to have been concerned with was offering material or emotional support. Very few actually went out of their way to assist victims get over the trauma. In fact, the authorities went ahead to issue a directive for people not to talk about the event. While this would have minimized the spreading of fear to others, it totally ignored the victims in terms of helping them get over the trauma.

The following six steps could also have been used in efforts to help the victims recover from the trauma suffered as a result of the Colorado shooting: Trauma Recovery Integration This intervention borrows heavily from the addiction recovery process. It follows the renowned twelve steps in helping the victims get over trauma. The best way to address the issue would be in a group (Straussner & Calnan, 2014). In the case of Colorado shooting, all the survivors needed to have been put in a group to help one another recover under the guidance of experts.

However, this did not happen. There have been very little efforts if any to assist victims get over the harrowing event. That is why many feared to venture out in the public even months after the ordeal. If not checked, the victims would turn into introverts who only associate with those around them. At the end of the twelve steps, the victims would be fit to rejoin the society without living in the backdrop of the shooting. Relationship model The relationship model would have helped the individuals forge better relationships in future.

In the first instance, victims would most probably want to keep off those they perceive to be movie enthusiasts. This they would do to ensure such parties do not lead them to theaters among other places they associate with the trauma.

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