Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) normally accrues from either witnessing or experiencing life-threating events. Patients experience symptoms like severe anxiety, nightmares and other shuttering events in their lives. Various theories have been used to try and create an understanding of this condition and some of these theories are self-concept theory and cognitive-behavioral theory. The following essay explains how these two theories contribute to the understanding of PTSD.
Cognitive Behavioural Theory
According to Lee & Dozois, (2019) cognitive-behavioral theory defines the manner in which people’s spontaneous thoughts or perceptions about events in life influence their psychological, emotional and often behavioral reactions. These beliefs influence the way they process information giving rise to their distorted thoughts. According to the theory, therefore, the manner in which adults perceive romantic relationships is shaped by their previous experiences including the kind of relationships their parents had. Other factors such as childhood abuse may also lead some adults to get involved with partners who are abusers or to become abusers in their relationship.
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Self-Concept Theory
Self-concept theory underpins one’s self-beliefs and conceptions about life and the events that they encounter in life. According to Bryan, Grove, & AKimbrel, (2017) the theory of self-conception is useful in understanding how people perceive themselves especially with regards to the aftermath of any traumatizing event that they may have undergone in their lives. Awareness of oneself begins at an early age and goes on throughout the life of an individual. Therefore, people react to events depending on the way these events shape their self-perceptions.
Overall, PTSD is a condition that occurs to people after the occurrence or the experience of a traumatic event. It is therefore normally a reaction to the specific traumatic event. Theories like Self-Concept and Cognitive Behavioural aid to explain the manifestation of the condition and their effect on the victims affected.
References
Bryan, C., Grove, J., & AKimbrel, N. (2017). Theory-driven models of self-directed violence among individuals with PTSD. Current Opinion in Psychology, 1 (2), 12-17.
Lee, J., & Dozois, W. (2019). A dyadic partner-schema model of relationship distress and depression: Conceptual integration of interpersonal theory and cognitive-behavioral models. Clinical Psychology Review, 1 (2), 13-25.
