Misconceptualizations of trauma or reification in the psychotraumatology research on survivors of violence

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In recent decades, the study of trauma has rapidly evolved within Clinical Psychology. Researchers and therapists often oversimplify trauma, viewing it as a static entity rather than a complex, relational phenomenon. This work conducts an epistemological investigation into how psychologists conceptualize trauma by examining 20 key articles from international literature. Through textual and logical analysis, it reveals that trauma is frequently misconceived as a tangible thing, leading to negative implications for patient therapy. The investigation encompasses scientific literature in English, German, French, and Spanish, highlighting distinct understandings of trauma among American, German, French, and Latino researchers, as well as differing therapeutic approaches. This comparative analysis is a pioneering effort to showcase these culturally diverse perspectives on trauma. Ultimately, the work concludes that a "dialectical-ecological" approach is essential for comprehensively understanding the clinical complexities of trauma, transcending individual psychological orientations.