Posttraumatic Growth: Real or Illusory?
Posttraumatic Growth: Real or Illusory
What is Posttraumatic Growth?
The term posttraumatic growth, or PTG, was coined by Tedeschi and Calhoun as “the experience of positive change that occurs as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life crises. It is manifested in a variety of ways, including an increased appreciation for life in general, more meaningful interpersonal relationships, an increased sense of personal strength, changed priorities, and a richer existential and spiritual life.” (Rousseau, 2025). Tedeschi and Calhoun (2014) found that survivors gain an increased sense of their capabilities to survive and prevail despite, as well as an added value for the smaller things in life. Some even suggest that PTG may actually be more common than the development of PTSD after a traumatic event.
In a number of studies recounted by Tedeschi and Calhoun (2014) findings indicate that cognitive processing, supportive social environments, and life narrative is all important in the process of achieving PTG. Cognitive processing is beneficial in that it helps survivors reflect and process emotions rather than engaging in constant brooding over their situation (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2014). Having strong social support is also extremely influential in the process of PTG and naturally this makes sense. Studies found that when people affected by trauma perceive their significant others as not wanting to hear about their difficulties, cognitive processing may be inhibited (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2014). Lastly, life narrative is important in that the way in which a survivor sees themselves and tells their story can set the stage for fundamental changes in their outlook on the future (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2014).
It is also important to note that Tedeschi and Calhoun do not dismiss the fact that traumatic events will cause emotional and psychological hurdles in one’s life. They suggest that both trauma responses and emotional turmoil can coexist with factors of PTG. Immediately after a traumatic event, an individual will struggle to cope emotionally and mentally, but eventually can progress after time towards developing PTG.
Problems with Posttraumatic Growth
While research on PTG seems promising, other researchers have found that PTG may not actually be that common. Some even indicate that PTG is illusory, a way for survivors to appear as though they are coping better than most or as a defensive mirage to their actual feelings. According to Camille Wortman (2004) in a study done on people who experienced the traumatic death of a loved one, found that “those whose assumptions about the world have been most shattered by the event are far less likely to experience growth than those in the other groups”, with 2% of respondents saying they found positive benefits in the result of their situations. Further, Tedeschi and Calhoun claim that strong social environment is a factor to the development of PTG, while Wortman found that literature suggests “in most cases, people do not react positively to others’ attempts to provide a new perspective on what has happened” (Wortman, 2004).
Wortman is not the only scholar concerned with the validity of Tedeschi and Calhoun’s claims of the prevalence of PTG. Jayawickreme et al (2021) also find fault with the studies conducted in support of PTG. These researchers start with three errors in the measurement of PTG as a whole. First, many life events are relatively rare and therefore require access to a sufficiently large population to ensure that the sample is large enough to provide statistical power (Jayawickreme et al, 2021). Second, the timing of data collection is complicated by the fact that many life events are not predictable (Jayawickreme et al, 2021). Third, not everyone is equally prone to experience certain life events, such that individual differences may impact both the experience of events and the outcomes of those events (Jayawickreme et al, 2021). The measurement of PTG is often used by a checklist in which Tedeschi and Calhoun created. However, measuring PTG cannot be as simple as a checklist. Individuals experience everything differently, it is almost impossible to know (through the use of checklists) the “weight” that someone gives one event over another in their life. Therefore, having a PTG checklist for experimental purposes, may not actually be valid or reliable in terms of measurement.
Posttraumatic Growth as a Personality Change
Jayawickreme et al instead, challenge these limitations on the studies of PTG by suggesting we look at PTG as a form of positive personality change. Researchers suggest that character strengths can emerge from traumatic events, specifically what they call wisdom-related character aspects which include intellectual humility, open-mindedness to diverse perspectives on an issue, understanding the multiple ways in which situations may unfold, and empathy (Jaywickreme et al, 2021). Thus, promoting a bigger picture view on life, enhancing open mindedness. Where in contrast, it is pointed out that “adopting the habitual immersed reflection on adverse events may lead to re-experiencing the negative emotions evoked by the event and ruminating about the event inhibits character growth” (Jayawickreme, 2021).
Potentially the strongest point made by the idea of PTG as personality change, addresses Tedecshi and Calhoun’s assumption that narrative identity is important in developing PTG. Jayawickreme et al (2021) found that the process of narrating and revising stories about key life events over time may facilitate changes in the individual’s self-concept. The narrative reconstruction process may eventually facilitate positive personality change at the level of narrative identity by facilitating greater adjustment and well-being (Jayawickreme, 2021).
A Personal Reflection
The idea of PTG is one that I personally take a liking to because I believe to have experienced it. About six years ago, I experienced an ongoing traumatic period of roughly eight months. During that period of time I was withdrawn, isolated, depressed, and experienced flashbacks. My perception of the world and myself changed and through it all I lacked a support system of people who understood what I was going through. After I removed myself from the situation, I struggled with acceptance of myself and from others who had accepted me prior to the events months before. Ultimately, it changed how I approached my relationship with myself and others.
Four years later, I constantly struggled with self-esteem and maintaining relationships. I was in a tumultuous living situation which exacerbated all those feelings. After I found yet multiple other relationships breaking down in front of me, I decided I was done. I no longer wanted to feel the way I had in the past and I wanted to start living for myself. I started trying new things, making new friends, journaling, and working on myself. I took up weightlifting, went to therapy, and listened to self-help podcasts. I did the hard work and in turn made progress in life. I felt emotionally and mentally stronger, I forgave those who hurt me and forgave myself for what I didn’t know when I was going through it all. I felt I had more opportunities and better relationships. Today, I am so much stronger than I thought I would be five years ago and while for me, PTG did not occur within months or even a year after, I still experienced growth.
While the lack of validity and reliability in PTG research as pointed out by Worton and Jayawickreme et al is strong, I believe more research needs to be done all around on both sides of the argument. Most of the longitudinal studies in which Worton and Jayawickreme site as counterpoints to Tedeschi and Calhoun do not go past two years of the traumatic incident, which as I pointed out for me took four years. Additionally, there may not be a great way to collect data on PTG given the fact that trauma in and of itself is very personal and everyone experiences life events differently. However, I believe that if we find the right people, there is more evidence of PTG than skeptics may realize, it may just not be as an immediate effect as thought. Additionally, I can say that for my own journey, a supportive environment did affect my growth as well as changing the narrative in which I told myself. I would view my PTG as a positive change in personality, that eventually rewired my brain in a way that changed how I now approach life. Therefore, I would not be so quick to dismiss the prospect of posttraumatic growth in anyone.
References:
Jayawickreme, E., et al (2021). Post-traumatic growth as positive personality change: Challenges, opportunities, and recommendations. Journal of personality, 89(1), 145–165. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12591
Rousseau, D. (2025). Lesson 1.2: Addressing Trauma. Boston University
Tedeschi, R., & Calhoun, L. (2014). Chapter 30: Clinical Applications of Posttraumatic Growth. In Positive Psychology in Practice: Promoting Human Flourishing in Work, Health, Education, and Everyday Life (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 503–518). essay, John Wiley & Sons.
Wortman, Camille. (2004). Posttraumatic Growth: Progress and Problems. Psychological Inquiry. 15