Helping Victims of Loss and Trauma: A Social Psychological Perspective

Abstract

(from the chapter) The primary goal of this chapter is to apply the social psychological literature on prosocial behavior to the topic of helping people who have experienced a loss or trauma. Specifically, the authors discuss why people are motivated to help people who are victims of such circumstances. The authors then examine a particular kind of helping that seems especially effective during times of loss and trauma--social support. Next the authors consider the factors that may affect a person's willingness to ask for help at the time of a personal loss or trauma. Finally, the authors attempt to integrate the 3 major sections of the chapter and outline some of the conceptual relationships among the occurrence of personal loss or a traumatic event, the emotional and behavioral reactions, and the affective and behavioral responses of others who are available to help or offer social support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2000 APA, all rights reserved)