POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SELF-COMPLEXITY - PATTERNS OF ADJUSTMENT FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC VERSUS NONTRAUMATIC LIFE EXPERIENCES

Citation
Hj. Morgan et R. Janoffbulman, POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SELF-COMPLEXITY - PATTERNS OF ADJUSTMENT FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC VERSUS NONTRAUMATIC LIFE EXPERIENCES, Journal of social and clinical psychology, 13(1), 1994, pp. 63-85
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology, Clinical","Psychology, Social
ISSN journal
07367236
Volume
13
Issue
1
Year of publication
1994
Pages
63 - 85
Database
ISI
SICI code
0736-7236(1994)13:1<63:PANS-P>2.0.ZU;2-R
Abstract
The present research extended work on the buffering effects of self-co mplexity by exploring its implications for long-term adjustment follow ing traumatic life events. Self-complexity for positive and negative s elf-representations were examined separately. Subjects were classified into two groups-trauma and no-trauma-based on their ratings of experi enced negative life events. Positive self-complexity was strongly asso ciated with better adjustment post-trauma, whereas it was unrelated to adjustment for those who had not experienced a traumatic life event. Negative self-complexity was associated with poorer adjustment in both groups. Overall, psychological adjustment for those who had experienc ed a traumatic event was best predicted by the presence of many indepe ndent positive self-representations, whereas adjustment for those who had not experienced a traumatic event was best predicted by the absenc e of many different negative self-representations.