Jarralynne Agee, PsyD

Adjunct Professor University of Alabama, Birmingham

Program Coordinator, JCCEO CSAPP

9/22/11

The Psychological Impact of 9/11 2011 CAE National Security Colloquium

Psychological Impact of Trauma• Emotional• Mental• Intellectual• Psycho-Somatic

9/11 Images• What we see

Emotional Memory• On our discussion board• Describe the images you

remember most.• Discuss:

− What you remember about that day

− Physical details about the date or time

− Mental details about information

− Emotional memories about the day and event

The brain and traumatic images• The amygdala and pain

The brain and traumatic images• Emotional memory• Is emotional pain real• Images and emotion• Dealing with trauma

− Individually− As a community− As a country

The brain and trauma• Emotional responses

− Shock− Fear− Numb……..others?

• Mental Response− Find meaning− “Trauma script”− Making meaning of the events

• Intellectual response− Making meaning of the events

What influences us?

Microsystem

Mesosystem

Macrosystem

Exosystem

Microsystem- The most basic system, referring to an individual's most immediate environment (i.e.,

the effects of personality characteristics on other family

members).

Mesosystem- A more generalized system referring to the

interactional processes between multiple microsystems (i. e., effects of spousal relationships on parent-

child interactions).

Exosystem- Settings on a more generalized level which affect

indirectly, family interactions on the micro and meso levels (i. e.,

the effects of parent's employment on family interactions).

Macrosystem- The most generalized forces, affecting

individuals and family functioning (i.e., political, cultural, economical,

social).

Ecosystem

Social Ecosystem

Brofenbenner’s eco-systemic theory

Processing the moment: How did the events on 9/11 impact the following?

• Microsystem- An individual’s immediate environment

• Mesosystem- System of interaction between multiple microsystems

• Exosystem- Employment, travel etc.

• Macrosystem- Cultural social and political forces

Post Traumatic Stress • What counts as trauma?• How close or far away to the event do you have

to be to experience trauma?• Who are the people that are most susceptible to

PTSD?• Can people cope, manage or heal?

Making meaning of what has happened?• What happens as a result of

trauma?• Setbacks or carry forwards?• How does history get retold?• What have we learned that

we can use in the future?