THE IMPACT OF TRAUMATISM ON THE PERSONALITY
Keywords:
Trauma, physical and psychological suffering, traumatic neurosis, modification of the personality, blockage of three functions: function of filtering the environment, function of presence, function of love, grieving process.Abstract
The notion of suffering is fundamental in order to define the concept of post-traumatic personality.
Physical suffering which is easy to objectify must be differentiated from psychological suffering which is essentially subjective.
Reminder of the notion of traumatic neurosis based on the encounter, unbearable for every human being, with death.
A traumatic event brings about defensive adjustments whatever the previous personality. Ernest Simmel, a pupil of Freud’s, spoke of ‘a change of soul and a burying of the person’. Otto Fenichel identified the changes in personality following a trauma. Then General Crocq spoke of a post-traumatic personality.
This post-traumatic personality is characterised by a blockage of the function of filtering of the environment; the blockage of the function of presence and the blockage of the function of love and relationship with others. Finally mourning for oneself.
