Contradictions in the Trauma Discourse as a Developmental Opening

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 9:45 am - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Systems and Stories: Cultural-Historical Perspectives on Development and Equity

Abstract

Childhood adversity and trauma have been studied by community college students in the Student Experiences Research Group since 2017. Recorded discussions of theory, survey development, survey analysis, and personal experiences as well as interviews of former SERG members (in progress and on-going) serve as data for the exploration of the sociocultural aspects of trauma and healing. Cultural-historical activity theory provides the lens for conceptualizing the contested nature of trauma. The different ways students talk about trauma and to share or choose not to share their personal adversities are related to the contradictions in the scientific and public discourse. The moments of contradiction in student perschivania are theorized as microgenetic development that is at the heart of healing.

Author

• Lara M. Beaty, LaGuardia Community College - CUNY