Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Are reports of posttraumatic growth positively biased?
1Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. ssmith8@student.gsu.edu
Abstract:
This study examines positivity bias in reports of growth following exposure to traumatic events. Participants (N = 276) from an urban university and a superior court jury pool were randomly assigned to one of two methodological groups. In one, participants responded to the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) in relation to a specific stressful event. In the other, PTGI questions were not linked to specific events. Findings indicate that current methods for assessing posttraumatic growth (PTG) may actually underestimate growth. That is, linking questions about growth to specific stressors may have led participants to be cautious about attributing their growth experiences to a traumatic event. These findings contradict notions that current methods of measuring PTG create a positivity bias. Suggestions for future research include the use of prospective designs and corroborating reports of growth.
Related Concept Videos
Unrealistic Optimism Bias
Self-Serving Bias
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Motivational Bias
Halo Effect
Regression Toward the Mean