Post-Traumatic Growth: A Positive Angle to Psychological Trauma

Majority of the earlier clinicians and researchers focused their work with trauma survivors on negative psychological outcomes such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTDS). However, following the emergence of positive psychology, and Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) construct over the last two decades, there has been a paradigm shift in the field of trauma research. More attention is now being focused on positive personal changes or transformations (ie. post-traumatic growth), instead of negative consequences (eg. post-traumatic stress Disorder) experienced by victims of trauma as a result of exposure to traumatic events. Despite the important implications of this new perspective for research and clinical interventions, it seems relatively unknown in Nigeria. This paper, therefore, explores the construct of post-traumatic growth with a view to providing an impetus for systematic research, and understanding of the phenomenon in the Nigerian context.