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Applying Community Psychology to the Prevention of Trauma and Traumatic Life Events

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Traumatic Stress

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Stress and Coping ((SSSO))

Abstract

The practice of psychology usually takes the form of clinical psychology; that is, it occurs at the individual or small-group level, begins after a mental health problem has developed, and aims to correct that problem, thus restoring mental health. Assessment and treatment are of undeniable value for victims of trauma, yet to focus solely on clinical practice would be to neglect a myriad of other opportunities to aid individuals who have been victimized by trauma, to build resistance resources among those at risk for exposure or, better still, to prevent individuals from becoming victims in the first place. “Practice” toward these ends often takes the form of community psychology, meaning it occurs at the community or systems level, begins earlier in the etiology of the focal problem, and has a resource-building rather than deficit-correcting orientation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, USA

    Fran H. Norris & Martie P. Thompson

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  1. Fran H. Norris
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  2. Martie P. Thompson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 29425, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

    John R. Freedy

  2. Applied Psychology Center, Department of Psychology, Kent State University, 44242, Kent, Ohio, USA

    Stevan E. Hobfoll

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Norris, F.H., Thompson, M.P. (1995). Applying Community Psychology to the Prevention of Trauma and Traumatic Life Events. In: Freedy, J.R., Hobfoll, S.E. (eds) Traumatic Stress. Springer Series on Stress and Coping. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1076-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1076-9_3

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