1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910168754203321

Autore

Kaminer Debra

Titolo

Traumatic stress in South Africa / / Debra Kaminer and Gillian Eagle [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Johannesburg : , : Wits University Press, , 2010

ISBN

1-77614-167-9

1-86814-682-0

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (x, 222 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Disciplina

616.8521

Soggetti

Post-traumatic stress disorder - South Africa

Psychic trauma - South Africa

Stress (Psychology) - South Africa

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 09 May 2018).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-204) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Patterns of trauma exposure in South Africa --Posttraumatic stress disorder and other trauma syndromes --Trauma as a crisis of meaning --Trauma interventions for individuals, groups and communities --Children and trauma.

Sommario/riassunto

Traumatic Stress in South Africa deals with the topic of traumatic stress from a number of angles. Traumatic stress, and posttraumatic stress more particularly, has gained international prominence as a condition or disorder that affects people across the globe in the wake of exposure to extreme life events, be these collective or individual. Given the history of political violence in South Africa, extremely high levels of violence against women and children and the prevalence of violent crime, South Africa has the unfortunate distinction of being considered a real life laboratory in which to study traumatic stress. Taking both a historical and contemporary perspective, the book covers the extent of and manner in which traumatic stress manifests, including the way in which exposure to such extremely threatening events impacts on people's meaning and belief systems. Therapeutic and community strategies for addressing and healing the effects of trauma exposure are comprehensively covered, as well as the particular needs of traumatised children and adolescents. Illustrative case material is used



to render ideas accessible and engaging. The book also provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of theory and practice in the field of traumatic stress studies, incorporating both international and South African specific findings. The particular value of the text lies in the integration of global and local material and attention to context related challenges, such as how trauma presentation and intervention is coloured by cultural systems and class disparities. The book highlights both psychological and sociopolitical dimensions of traumatic stress.