Surviving Trauma and Major Adversities

Dr. Keren-Miriam Adam; Prof. em. Dr. Arieh Y Shalev MD

doi:10.5771/9783748949862

Summary

This book addresses the various ways in which people survive traumatic events. It juxtaposes the experiences of Israeli and German survivors and examines how individuals face major adversities in their lives. Deviating from the current focus on trauma and traumatic stress disorders, we highlight the ways in which individuals under duress find ways to reduce harm, cope with loss, endure pain, preserve attachment bonds, protect their identities and maintain a sense of uninterrupted existence. The case material consists of 25 interviews with survivors from all walks of life, conducted by Dr. Keren-Miriam Adam. Professor Arieh Shalev discusses the war in Ukraine and the new ecology of disaster.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2026
Copyright year: 2026
ISBN-Print: 978-3-7560-2340-0
ISBN-Online: 978-3-7489-4986-2
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Language: English
Pages: 236
Product type: Book Titles

1. Preface No access
1. 1. 1. Paradigmatic case reports No access
    2. Hindsight distortions? No access
    3. Ordinary Survivors and the Post Survival effect No access
  2. 1. Physical survival No access
    2. Harm reduction No access
    3. Identity, agency and integrity. No access
  3. 1. Navigating within uncontrollable stress No access
    2. Persevering at all costs: No access
    3. Staying informed No access
    4. Maintaining a sense of safety: No access
    5. Developing routines No access
    6. Mothers and other core supporters No access
    7. Attachment bonds No access
    8. Recovering from loss No access
    9. The unyielding attraction of life. No access
    10. Broken lives and post–traumatic conditions: No access
  4. 1. The Life Events model: estimating events’ severity No access
    2. 1. Events as life transitions No access
      2. Transformative moments No access
      3. The Death Imprint No access
    3. The Traumatic Stress Perspective No access
    4. 1. Stress, appraisal, and coping: an interactive dynamic. No access
      2. Coping style, ﬂexibility, and efficacy No access
    5. Adjustment and adaptation No access
    6. 1. An existential view: meaning, freedom, and survivor mission No access
      2. Cross-cultural differences? No access
  5. Summary No access
  6. Concluding remarks: Survivors and Perpetrators No access
Appendix I No access Pages 59 - 64
Appendix II No access Pages 65 - 72
1. Interviews No access
Postface No access Pages 235 - 236