ABSTRACT
This chapter includes discussion of situations relating to individuals who have been traumatized and whole groups of people who may be traumatized. It deepens and extends the understanding of such matters, particularly as they relate to the workplace, so that we will be in a better position to respond to them when a trauma occurs. For one, a person’s psychological response to a traumatic situation will be very much of an individualized nature, but it will also reflect the wider cultural values and shared meanings that are part of the individual’s background. Families are an important part of the social context and this is something that is recognized in the work of Nadeau who writes of the significant role of what she refers to as “family storytelling.” Paramedics, firefighters, police officers and other ancillary staff are a primary group when it comes to being in the front line in relation to trauma.
