A philosophical approach to improving empirical research on posttraumatic growth

Brady, M. and Jayawickreme, E. (2023) A philosophical approach to improving empirical research on posttraumatic growth. Philosophical Psychology, (doi: 10.1080/09515089.2023.2213251) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) has been a key topic of research by psychologists over the last 25 years. But the idea that a person can benefit from adversity has been around for much longer, and is a stable in many mainstream cultures, and in theological and recent philosophical thinking. However, there has been, to date, little overlap between psychological research into PTG, and philosophical thinking about similar ideas. This is unfortunate, both because philosophers are not taking up potential sources of empirical support, and because psychological research into PTG is subject to a range of criticisms and concerns. In this paper, we aim to show how philosophical thinking can address some of these, and as a result put psychological research into PTG on a firmer theoretical footing.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The work was supported by the John Templeton Foundation [61514] and a National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grant provided to the Humanities Institute at Wake Forest University.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Brady, Professor Michael
• Authors: Brady, M., and Jayawickreme, E.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Philosophy
• Journal Name: Philosophical Psychology
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0951-5089
• ISSN (Online): 1465-394X
• Published Online: 18 May 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Philosophical Psychology 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License