Silverstein articleCrystal Gordon and Jennifer Jantz

SOWK 503

Key Points Examined the relation between combat-related trauma

experience and male ego development.

The impact of trauma on employment, marital and

legal behavior.

Trauma is prevalent among combat veterans.

Key PointThe mean age of the Vietnam combatant was approximately 19.5 years (typical veteran - crucial developmental stage)

ExamplesInstruments:

The Ego Identity Scale

Defense Style

Questionnaire

Impact of Event scale

Procedures:

Inpatients & outpatients

completed questionnaires

All data collections were

anonymous and

voluntary.

Strengths & WeaknessesNo females veterans were surveyed

What did you find interesting, unique and important in the article?

Almost one million (960,000) Vietnam veterans have been diagnosed as suffering from symptoms of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Kulka et al., 1990).

What did you find interesting, unique and important in the article?

Combat veterans:

Have a lower ego development

Have lower levels of identity achievement

o The greater the stress of the combat experience,

the lower the level of identity achievement

Use more maladaptive defenses

What did you find interesting, unique and important in the article?Combat veterans:

Have more:

o Failed marriages

o Employment problems

o Legal difficulties

Each of these variables (marriage, employment, legal history)

correlate with measures of ego development. (Silverstein, 1995)

What did you find interesting, unique and important in the article?

Those who experienced trauma during critical life

transitions were more vulnerable to post-traumatic

maladjustment (Laufer, 1988; Van der Kolk, 1985; Wilson, 1980).

oAge of the trauma (adolescence) was a factor

Implications for social work practice. Ego psychology focuses on the mind’s development in interaction

with the social and physical world so it allows therapists with a

theoretical framework for:

o Repairing the effects of arrested, incomplete, or distorted

psychosocial development, and

o Facilitating a better fit between the psychological needs of the

individual and the normative expectations of society (Unit 6/Ego Psychology Retrieved from: https://vac.msw.usc.edu/mod/page/view.php?id=87978)

Implications for social work practice.Working with veterans who have experienced combat-

related trauma requires an understanding of the impact

of the event within the developmental perspective (Silverstein, 1994).

Findings of the study show a relation between trauma

processing and ego development (Silverstein, 1995).

What are considerations based on the Social Work Code of Ethics…

Social work professional’s focus:

oWell-being of the individual (Service value)

oWell-being of society (Service value)

What are considerations based on the Social Work Code of Ethics…

Promotion of social justice and social change (Social Justice

value)

o Pursue social change with and on behalf of vulnerable

individuals such as our veterans with PTSD

o Promote sensitivity to and knowledge about PTSD

o Ensure access to and advocate for needed information,

services and resources for individuals with PTSD and their

families

What are considerations based on the Social Work Code of Ethics…

Silverstein wrote in 1995 that the Veterans Administration

has started to implement such treatment plans in their

PTSD units.

Based on the volume and needs of today, these services are

not enough to meet the demand.

Social workers are called to advocate for more services and

resources for our veterans and their families.