Explain how resources, perception, coping, and resilience impact the understanding and manifestations of victim reactions and their recovery process.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Availability and access to resources following victimization can greatly reduce the effect of trauma. There are two important types of resources: those that are available and used to settle the initial reactions to the stressor and those that are acquired, developed, or strengthened subsequent to a crisis situation. The perception and interpretation of a traumatic event to an individual is important in understanding the different manifestations of reactions. How a victim reacts to such an event depends not only on the available resources, but also the meaning they attach to it. Meanings attributed to stressor events are subjective, and the factors that contribute to reactions include ambiguity, denial, and the belief and value systems of the individual. Coping refers to the thoughts and acts that people use to manage the internal and external demands posed by a stressful or traumatic event. It is a process where any behavioral or cognitive action is taken in an effort to manage stress. If the stressor is perceived as challenging or threatening, the individual then determines what responses are possible and what his or her potential outcomes might be. There are two major categories of coping strategies: problem-focused and emotion-focused. Resiliency is defined as a person’s ability to maintain a balanced state in the face of challenges; it is the person’s ability to “bounce back” after being traumatized, where the person is able to process and make sense of the disruption in their lives, identify their resources, and successfully handle the crisis.