Abstract
IntroductionTraumas refer to relatively discrete, negatively valanced, events causing physical, economic, spiritual, and/or psychological harm with life-altering impacts. These impacts include widely varied effects on the identity functioning of adolescents/emerging adults. MethodsThe array of possible impacts of traumatic events was considered with particular attention devoted to the identification of variables that may be predictive of particular identity-related outcomes. ResultsA taxonomy of possible developmental impacts of traumatic events on identity functioning is developed: (a) identity resilience, (b) identity affirmation, (c) identity delay, (d) identity threat, (e) identity loss, (f) identity alteration, (g) identity replacement, (h) trauma-shaped identity, and (i) trauma-centered identity. A series of 11 propositions regarding the predictors of various developmental impacts is advanced. The propositions involve variables related to the nature of the traumatic event, variables related to the effects of trauma (other than identity-related effects), person-related variables, and variables related to the social context in which the person is functioning. ConclusionThese propositions can serve as a research agenda for furthering our understanding of the range of effects of trauma on identity functioning.
Published Version
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