Revisiting a Constructive Classic: Wright's Physical Disability: A Psychosocial Approach.

Abstract

Beatrice A. Wright's (1960) classic book, Physical Disability: A Psychological Approach is a landmark publication in rehabilitation psychology. The authors believe that Division 22's forthcoming 50th anniversary, the results of a recent survey on essential readings in rehabilitation psychology, and a public critique concerning the relevance of individuating language in psychology are compelling reasons for revisiting the influence of Physical Disability. After discussing these catalysts, the authors review the book's history, scholarly impact, and link to positive disciplinary directions. The authors conclude by encouraging rehabilitation psychologists and other members of the discipline to (re)acquaint themselves with this important book and the timeless concepts it espouses.

The role of causal attributions in public misconceptions about brain injury.

“…People assume that the appearance of physical deviation points to other psychological or physical deficits (Dunn, 2010;Dunn & Elliott, 2005). This is an instance of "spread" or overgeneralization (e.g., Dunn, 2000Dunn, , 2010.…”

Evaluating Snyder’s Hope Theory as a Motivational Model of Participation and Life Satisfaction for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Path Analysis

“…Resilience was positively correlated with causality and perceived control, and had a direct effect on pathways thinking and agency thinking. The construct of resilience is useful for understanding why some people are better able to "bounce back" from adversity and get on with their lives (Catalano et al, 2011;Dyer & McGuinness, 1996), and is an important factor to consider for people who have acquired traumatic disabilities. Resilience has been studied among individuals with spinal cord injuries in particular and has been positively associated with life satisfaction (Quale & Schanke, 2010) and has been negatively correlated with depression (White et al, 2010).…”

“…Rehabilitation and positive psychology overlap in their focus on assets as opposed to a more exclusive focus on limitations (Dunn & Elliott, 2005;Lopez, Snyder, & Rasmussen, 2003;Wright, 1983;Wright & Lopez, 2002). Assets include resources, such as skills and personal qualities.…”

“…Resilience has been included as a construct in many positive psychology studies (Catalano, Chan, Wilson, Chiu, & Muller, 2011;Masten & Reed, 2002;White, Driver, & Warren, 2010). It is defined as a personal quality that allows people to "bounce back" in the face of adversity and move on (Dyer & McGuinness, 1996). Hope is sometimes regarded as one of the resilience factors (Horton & Wallander, 2001).…”

The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale as a Positive Psychology Measure for People With Spinal Cord Injuries

“…Although no universal definition of resilience has been established, resilience is frequently defined as a dynamic process that encompasses both a behavioral and a psychological manifestation of positive adaptation within the context of significant adversity (Todd & Worell, 2000). In its simplest terms, resilience results in people "bouncing back" from adversity and getting on with their lives (Dyer & McGuinness, 1996). Two major judgments must be made to infer resilience: (a) there must be exposure to significant adversity and (b) a positive developmental outcome must have occurred (Yates, Egeland, & Sroufe, 2003).…”