Cognitive-Emotional
Theories and Trauma
Meagan L. Howell, M.S.
Saint Louis University
Theories of PTSD
 Cognitive Models

Changes in memory function

Automatic processing

Shattered core beliefs
 Janoff-Bulman
Stress Response Theory
 Initial emotional reaction to trauma
 Efforts to “assimilate” new info from the
trauma into knowledge base
Information Processing Theory
 Trauma memories processed in
separate & distinct way
 Incomplete processing leads to PTSD
Cognitive Behavioral Theory
 Aaron T. Beck
 Examine the
interactions between
thoughts, emotions,
and behaviors.
 Experience over time
impacts the patterns
we develop
THOUGHT
EMOTION
BEHAVIOR
CBT and Trauma
 Focus is on victim’s:





Memory functioning
Information processing
Shattered or challenged core beliefs
Avoidance strategies
Self-criticism
Social Learning Theory
 Albert Bandura
 Observational
learning
 Modeling
 Key for Learning:
Learned Helplessness
 Martin Seligman
 Lack control in
environment
 Related to depression and
anxiety responses
Attributions / Locus of Control
 Internal
 Internal:
 External:
v. External
Attributions / Locus of Control
Global v. Unique
Global:
Unique/Situational:
Attributions / Locus of Control
Stable v. Unstable
Stable:
Unstable:
Maladjustment
 DEPRESSION
 ANXIETY
 Internal
 External
 Global
 Global
 Stable
 Unstable
Victim’s Appraisals
 Negative appraisals that develop can be
either external or internal:


External appraisals are typically related to
viewing the world and others as potentially
dangerous and harmful
Internal appraisals are more often related
to a sense of responsibility for the trauma
Types of Appraisals
 Overgeneralization of the traumatic
event into normal events
 Appraisals of one’s emotional and
behavioral responses during the event

These appraisals are thought to lead to
feelings of shame, responsibility, and guilt
Kubany’s Model
 Connects PTSD to social psychological
elements including hindsight bias,
responsibility, and determinism
 The key is the symptom of posttraumatic guilt
Post-Traumatic Guilt
 Define guilt as, “an unpleasant feeling with an
accompanying belief (or beliefs) that one should
have thought, felt, or acted differently” (p.429).
 Guilt is an important factor in the development
and maintenance of PTSD symptoms in combat
veterans, victims of domestic violence, rape,
child sexual abuse, and reckless drivers
 Hindsight bias cognitions “should have, could
have, if only” contribute to post-traumatic guilt
 Guilt tends to be tied to one’s behaviors
Shame
 Sense of public exposure of some
mistake or failure, accompanied by
feelings of disapproval in the eyes of
others and a negative evaluation of the
self (Tangney, Miller, Flicker, & Barlow,
1996).
 Shame is tied more closely to the Self