Surviving and Thriving: How Transition Psychology May Apply to Mass Traumas and Changes

Abstract

This article reviews the essential features of transitions for individuals and subsequently the hazards and opportunities of collective transitions for organizations and communities that experience mass traumas or changes. It reflects on transition theory and practice in individual and organizational settings since the 1970s, and in political and community settings since 1997. It explores examples of other major events and potential mass transitions from 1999 to the latest political changes and economic crisis in 2009. This chapter explores the application of transition psychology to mass transitions in three parts. Part 1 explains the basic principles of transition theory for individuals and groups with practical examples. Part 2 explores the potential dynamics of mass trauma or change in larger populations with some case study observations, forecasts, and reviews since 1997. These provide the basis for the transition analysis techniques in Part 3. These are offered for practitioners and researchers from different disciplines and cultures to test on past, current, and future events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)(chapter)