Download - Article Critique
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.