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Related Concept Videos

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder01:27

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle01:27

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
Traumatic Memory01:20

Traumatic Memory

Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual remembers mundane...
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
Horney's Sociocultural Approach01:27

Horney's Sociocultural Approach

Karen Horney's psychoanalytic theories emphasize the potential for self-realization and the importance of addressing social and cultural, rather than biological, factors in personality development. She challenged traditional Freudian views, particularly Freud's concept of "penis envy," which she argued stemmed from cultural influences rather than inherent biological differences. Horney believed that any sense of inferiority in women was a result of societal conditioning, such as dependence on...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
09:55

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Trauma reactivity, avoidant coping, and PTSD symptoms: a moderating relationship?

Suzanne L Pineles1, Sheeva M Mostoufi, C Beth Ready

  • 1National Center for PTSD, Women's Health Sciences Division, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, 150 South Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130, USA. Suzanne.Pineles@va.gov

Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|February 16, 2011
PubMed
Summary

High physiological reactivity and avoidant coping after trauma increase posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom risk. Early interventions for trauma survivors should address these factors to support recovery.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
09:55

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Trauma Studies
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Traumatic events often cause physiological reactivity, which usually decreases over time.
  • Avoidant coping strategies can hinder natural recovery from trauma, especially in highly reactive individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate avoidant coping as a moderator between heart rate reactivity to trauma reminders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity.
  • To identify individuals at higher risk for persistent or worsening PTSD symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-five female assault survivors underwent PTSD interviews and coping assessments.
  • Heart rate reactivity was measured during a trauma monologue within 1 month and again at 3 months post-assault.

Main Results:

  • After controlling for initial symptoms, the interaction between heart rate reactivity and avoidant coping predicted later PTSD symptom severity.
  • High reactivity combined with high reliance on avoidant coping was linked to increased PTSD symptom risk.

Conclusions:

  • Avoidant coping can exacerbate the impact of physiological reactivity on PTSD symptom trajectories.
  • Findings suggest early interventions targeting avoidant coping and physiological responses may benefit trauma survivors.