ABSTRACT

In this introductory chapter, the concept of posttraumatic growth is introduced and defined. Definitions of the crucial elements of the concept are explored—including trauma, events, and growth—that clarify how these elements are considered differently in the posttraumatic growth concept from their definitions in traditional trauma psychology. Relationships with similar concepts, such as perception of benefit, are discussed, with an emphasis on the personal transformation that is a hallmark of posttraumatic growth.