377- Book – Violence subie et résilience (details)

Book – Violence subie et résilience

By :  Claude de Tychey (edited by)

Also : 15 therapists

Score :  7/10

Year :  2015

Publisher : Érès 

ISBN : 9782749247861

Pages : 232 (starts at 9) 

Language : French 

I recently chose three psychology books in one of our libraries, and decided reading this one first. It discusses, in 6 grand (un-numbered) chapters the topic of resilience in view of various traumas, and uses the general term sustained violence.  

This book is academic and uses a lot of scientific jargon - and this isn't limited to psychology, as it adds neuroscience and biological processes (hormonal releases under stress, for example).

Thus, I find that it requires a slower reading, having to break longer chapters in manageable portions (in view of my lack of concentration, and to better grasp the notions imparted) ; and, between chapters, I read fiction. 

The book doesn't start at page 1, oh no.. it pushes the limits, even of most French books which often begin at page 7 ; this one starts at 9, with violence subie et résilience : introduction et historique. This, evidently, is an intro and a summary of the history of psychology/psychiatry's approach and understanding of experience violence, and resilience. In France, it all started in 1929, when a conference introduced the topic of child abuse. But, this was aside by the society at large, and the medical professionals in particular, due to the taboo nature of this very topic. In succession from 1945, 56, and finally 1982, the subjected was finally accepted as important, and the author of this introduction, Michel Manciaux, published several books about it. 

I found it odd that he mentioned having read a book in 2005 which inspired him to write in 1996 & 2001... that part wasn't clear at all. 

The first chapter, discusses the neurological factors linked to resilience, and how the brain reacts to stress/ trauma by releasing hormones, and how the level of stress determines the hormonal response, and how, in the higher levels, the response becomes irreversible - as shown by an expensive neuro-imagery technology.

After a short discussion, between several of the book's medical professionals, about general aspects of resilience and neurobiology, the second chapter addresses the topic of intra-family violence and resilience. This chapter relates a short sociological history of family relationships, and how child abuse took so long to even get considered as harmful, because it was such a norm in society. 

After another short discussion, the third chapter is about care and support for children victims of violence, followed by the fourth chapter, about comparative psychology school approaches in treating adults in near death risk and experiences. These two were informative, but somewhat drier than the previous 2 chapters. 

Then came to the most triggering, fifth chapter, about the clinical approach of sexual violence, trauma and care of victims. This chapter was paradoxically more interesting the two previous ones, and also carried information would can be used in other traumatic experiences, at least in those where there is a possible link of victim and abuser. It had a lot to teach about trauma and how it affects victims, but also how therapists should and should not help in such cases. It didn't, however, discuss any of the sociopolitical aspects of perpetuated victimization of women and that dealing with these social ailments would be an absolute necessity, so it lacked in intersectional feminist approaches in therapeutic sense, which I found deplorable attempts to be politically correct, by avoiding discussing some of the most damaging aspects of society, in which victimization is still normalized and expected. 

The sixth and last chapter discusses, at length, about expert evaluation of trauma, from compensation to resilience. In this, the French legal system is quickly explained to have a lay person's evaluation of a person's trauma, in its physical and financial aspects, but, as the therapists discussing this system - with the help of 2 case studies - is flawed, as it doesn't properly evaluate psychological effects and possible ptsd. Thus, in the two cases presented here, one sees that the very definitions of trauma and resilience aren't easy to determine : there is no consensus for either. I found this chapter interesting in showcasing two individuals who suffered accidents, and how their evaluation omitted any possible post traumatic aspects, which at first glance seems to be absent in both their lives post-accident, and yet, each may have had some ptsd symptoms. 

The woman's case shows how important proper social and meaning coping tools and seing some positives in a realistic way helped her see benefits post-accidents and thus, suffered from fewer difficulties, despite her natural inhibitions prior to the event.

The man's case shows that the absence of visible ptsd is rather an erroneous impression, as he suffered 2 other traumas in the same period (his wife left him and 2 years later, his mother passed away) and that his maladaptive coping tools include some magical, grandiose thinking and visualization, but the tests also show that he seems to suffer from some form of persecution imagery, and that his caregiver, altruiste nature is one sided, where he refuses to ask for help. His socialization in limited, shallow and boullimic, with an exaggerated usage of humour (even when the paramedics came on the scene of his accident, he joked with them). Lastkly, he is possibly on the verge of depression for which he uses all these tools in excess, but didn't fully start a process of healing, as he seems to be in denial. 

The book ends with an attempted conclusion about the definitions of trauma, resilience, differentiating it from coping, and a quick presentation of the 15 therapists who participated in the chapters and discussions between each of them. 

At the end of each chapter, there was also a bibliography for each of its points. 

Overall, more academic, using more jargon and in a drier format, I found this book a tad harder to follow than reading English psychology books ; I also found that it didn't address important societal issues at the root of violence and victimization, especially of women, but I also understand that in France, in 2015, this is probably unrealistic to expect. The first, second and sixte chapters were the most interesting, the fifth the most triggering one, and the others even drier than the rest of the book. 

My biggest complain is that they introduce tests, and answers to questions and tools they only name, but never detail, thus forcing me to research each and every single one of them. 

I plan to elaborate some of the things I learned through this book, in other blog entries, for which I created titles and shall fill-in each draft as inspiration, time and energy permit.