Education
New research by leading UL academic radically rethinks psychological trauma
UL academic research radically rethinks psychological trauma. UL academic, Orla Muldoon publishes a major new book on psychological trauma. Picture: Alan Place
New research by a leading academic at UL has radically re-examined what we know about psychological trauma
The publication of a major new book on psychological trauma by University of Limerick Professor Orla Muldoon details evidence that traumatic experiences can, under certain conditions, impact people’s political positions and appetite for social change.
Professor Muldoon, founding professor at the Department of Psychology and Director for the Centre for Social Issues Research at UL, was awarded almost €2.5m in European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant funding to study trauma.
The resulting book, The Social Psychology of Trauma: Connecting the Personal and the Political, will change thinking about trauma, offering a powerful and radical rethink of how stress, trauma and politics become intertwined.
advertisement
advertisement
Professor Muldoon’s research reveals trauma as a socially situated phenomenon linked to power and privilege or disempowerment and disadvantage.
“Doing research on the impact of traumatic experiences can be both heartening and heart-rending. You encounter people and situations that would touch the hardest of hearts and others who inspire with their tenacity and strength to go on. Even in a privileged Western nation such as Ireland, I don’t have to look hard to find stories of stress and trauma. Crisis and catastrophe happen with remarkable regularity.
“One thing that remains poorly understood is the attributes that help or hinder people when they meet misfortune. This book attempts to unravel the social and political processes that seem to matter in how people cope with adversity,” said Professor Muldoon.
This book is intentionally written to be accessible to victims and survivors of trauma, their families, those supporting them as well as practitioners, students, and academics.
It intertwines Professor Muldoon’s personal experiences of trauma to reveal how social and identity factors affect the experience and aftermath of trauma.
The book is accessible on another level too. In line with the ERC’s commitment to making its funded research available to the public, the book is also free to download in digital form.
The book will be launched by Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children, at the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 on Thursday, 23 May. All are welcome to attend from 5.30pm.
The Darkness return for King John’s Castle gig on June 20th
WATCH Dolan’s celebrates 30 years as a landmark for Limerick’s music scene
Natasha O’Brien attacker jailed for two years following successful DPP appeal
Dr Rebecca Purcell appointed Head of Business and Accounting Department at Mary Immaculate College
5 events happening in Limerick this weekend, January 24 – January 26
5 events happening in Limerick this weekend, January 24 – January 26
Croom Medical Celebrates 40 Years of Innovation and Growth in Medtech Industry
Filming of Liam Neeson movie, ‘4 Kids Walk Into a Bank’ resumes in Limerick
Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau celebrates three leaders for more than “50 years of service”
