#38: That which does not kill us…

Adding an extra dose of behavioral science to your week with our series In a Nutshell— a collection of behavioral science principles, explained in 150 words or less, written weekly by CUBIC director Allison Zelkowitz.

Think back to the most difficult experience of your life, perhaps a severe illness, an accident, a disaster, or the death of a loved one. 

How did it change you?

While many people are familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a less known, yet more common experience following suffering caused by trauma is called “post-traumatic growth.” First coined by psychologists in 1996, post-traumatic growth can occur as survivors come to terms with terrible events, leading to one or more of the following benefits: closer relationships, openness to possibilities, awareness of personal strengths, spiritual connection, increased compassion, and enhanced sense of purpose and appreciation for life.

According to psychologist Dr. Scott Kaufman, while most survivors would rightly prefer to have never experienced the trauma, the key to turning adversity into growth is fully experiencing the resulting sadness, grief and anger, and – when the time is right – searching for meaning in it.