Trauma-Inspired Prosocial Leadership Development

Williams, Jenifer Wolf; Allen, Stuart

doi:10.12806/v14/i3/r6

Cited by 9 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Scholars have extensively examined factors that contribute to these mental health outcomes, including the role of individual coping strategies, institutional barriers to care, and various predictors of well-being and posttraumatic growth. This research includes some investigation of the role that altruism, community engagement, and prosocial action may play in trauma recovery (Frazier et al, 2013; Staub & Vollhardt, 2008; Stidham, Draucker, Martsolf, & Mullen, 2012; Williams & Allen, 2015), as well as how survivors make meaning after experiencing trauma (Draucker et al, 2009; Park & Ai, 2006). Still, little is known about how activism and mainstream antiviolence movements, in addition to helping behaviors more broadly, may impact survivors and their healing processes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

From pain to power: An exploration of activism, the #Metoo movement, and healing from sexual assault trauma.

Swanson¹,

Szymanski²

2020

Journal of Counseling Psychology

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In this qualitative study, we explored the role that social activism and #MeToo and other large scale antiviolence activist movements may play in sexual assault survivors' healing process and how they navigate and make sense of their sexual assault experience. We interviewed 16 adult sexual assault survivors (13 women, 2 genderqueer/nonconforming individuals, and 1 identifying as a man and genderqueer) who were engaged in anti-sexual assault activism and analyzed their data using thematic analysis. Participants were predominately White and highly educated. We found that activism helped participants find their voice and regain their power. They described a process of moving from silence and shame around their sexual assault to freedom and empowerment. Their involvement in activism and/or connection to larger scale antiviolence activist movements (a) helped increase their understanding of themselves and their sexual assault experience, (b) served as a useful coping mechanism, (c) improved their self-confidence and relationships, (d) allowed them to stand up and speak out against attitudes and behaviors that foster rape culture, (e) provided support, validation, and connection to others, and (f) provided a source of meaning and fulfillment in their lives. Helping other survivors through their activist work also contributed to participants' healing process. Participants also described challenges associated with anti-sexual assault activism and #MeToo and related movements. These included being triggered, being inundated with media coverage and public narratives about sexual assault, burning out, and feeling disillusioned and frustrated. Finally, participants noted the importance of mainstream movements in increasing awareness. Public Significance StatementOur findings indicate that involvement in anti-sexual assault activism and connection to larger scale antiviolence activist movements can play an important role in sexual assault survivors' healing process and posttraumatic growth. However, activism also brings challenges that survivors need to be prepared for, such as being triggered, burning out, and feeling disillusioned and frustrated.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

From pain to power: An exploration of activism, the #Metoo movement, and healing from sexual assault trauma.

Swanson¹,

Szymanski²

2020

Journal of Counseling Psychology

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“…Prosocial leaders have emerged after PTEs as trauma-inspired or motivated by grief to create positive change for others (Williams & Allen, 2015). For example, parents have developed promotion and prevention programs for youth in schools as responses to shootings.…”

Section: Prosocial Leadership In Disaster Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Youth-led resilience promotion during disaster recovery: A proposed framework, innovative program, and lessons learned.

McCarty¹,

Pacque²,

Gatto³

et al. 2022

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Objective: Disasters, such as a school shooting or a global pandemic, harm psychological health and necessitate recovery. To complement adult-led disaster recovery and trauma-specific approaches, we propose a Youth-Led Resilience Promotion (YLRP) framework focusing on: (a) multitiered change, (b) resilience goals, (c) a promotion mindset, (d) youth strengths, (e) prosocial behaviors, and (f) capacity building through partnerships. The YLRP framework guided the development of a YLRP program in the aftermath of the Chardon High School shooting in Chardon, OH, which is detailed in a case study. Method: As part of a Community-Academic Partnership, 20 college student trainers delivered a multitiered, multicomponent resilience promotion intervention: universal resilience promotion to 1,070 high school students; targeted resilience promotion to 200 student leaders through workshops; and indicated resilience promotion to 30 student leaders through mentoring. Results: Student leaders formed a youth-led, afterschool club to advance relational resilience through prosocial strategies. Lessons learned from implementing the YLRP program for 6 years (2012-2017) are provided to guide YLRP program developers and program implementers. Conclusion: A youth-led program equipping youth leaders to engage in prosocial strategies may contribute to the psychological resilience and recovery of students after a school shooting, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and other potentially traumatic events. Clinical Impact StatementDisaster recovery after a school shooting or global pandemic must address the psychological trauma and bereavement of students in schools. However, underresourced schools and underratioed, school-based mental health professionals limit mental health care. Cognizant of these constraints, we propose a Youth-Led Resilience Promotion (YLRP) framework and program. The lessons learned from implementing the YLRP program after a school shooting may complement adult-led recovery and extend to psychological recovery after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic or other potentially traumatic events.

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“…Although trauma is usually considered detrimental to mental health, leaders who experience it often gain profound insights while struggling to overcome its implications. For example, many trauma survivors use their experiences to support other survivors and similar events from recurring (Williams & Allen, 2015). Moreover, many leaders retain their effectiveness despite experiencing adverse traumatic experiences.…”

Section: Trauma and Leadership Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploratory Study of Polyvagal Theory and Underlying Stress and Trauma That Influence Major Leadership Approaches

2022

JABE

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Leadership approaches have evolved to incorporate rational and non-rational processes. Traditional leadership research focused on internal and external organizational influences, but this paper underscores the need for adopting modern-day approaches for investigating leadership outcomes. Neuroscience can illuminate different cognitive effects that influence leadership. The research paper highlights the importance of attitudes towards leadership due to the complexity of modern organizational influences. The main forces highlighted are polyvagal theory, underlying stress, and trauma. A literature review provides a description of the fundamental neural and cognitive drivers of leadership. The paper also explains the findings of research studies demonstrating the correlation between neurocognitive processes and three leadership approaches: transactional, transformational and servant leadership. The discussion section elaborates these findings to determine whether insights can be applied in typical organizational settings. Lastly, the conclusion section summarizes the main deductions and explains limitations and recommendations for future exploratory investigations on rational and non-rational leadership choices. Overall, the paper attempts to justify why non-rational drivers carry equal weight as the rational influences.

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Trauma-Inspired Prosocial Leadership Development

Cited by 9 publications

References 42 publications

From pain to power: An exploration of activism, the #Metoo movement, and healing from sexual assault trauma.

From pain to power: An exploration of activism, the #Metoo movement, and healing from sexual assault trauma.

Youth-led resilience promotion during disaster recovery: A proposed framework, innovative program, and lessons learned.

Exploratory Study of Polyvagal Theory and Underlying Stress and Trauma That Influence Major Leadership Approaches

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