Citation

Solomon Z. J. Trauma. Stress 1995; 8(2): 271-282.

Affiliation

School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7627443

Abstract

Consistent observations suggest that denial of PTSD and blaming of its victims are not isolated omissions or distortions but a pattern that spans over time, crosses national and cultural boundaries, and defies accumulated knowledge. This article traces the origins of these attitudes and offers three explanations: (a) mental health professionals are unable to transcend prevailing cultural and social norms; (b) they are "blinded" by professional theories; and (c) denial may stem from a fundamental human difficulty in comprehending and acknowledging our own vulnerability.

Language: en