A trauma survivor who appraises the event with self-blame, such as believing they deserved the assault because they are stupid, may adopt dysfunctional behavioral strategies like avoiding social situations where men are likely to be present. This avoidance maintains PTSD symptoms by preventing both a change in the nature of the memory and a correction of the negative appraisal.

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Within the cognitive model of PTSD, negative appraisals refer to the detrimental interpretations an individual makes about a traumatic event and its aftermath, such as feelings of self-blame. These negative thoughts can lead to dysfunctional behaviors, like avoidance, which in turn reinforce the PTSD symptoms by preventing the individual from correcting their problematic beliefs and integrating the traumatic memory.

Negative Appraisals in PTSD

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Read the following scenario. Based on the cognitive processes described, identify the individual's core negative belief about the event and explain how their subsequent actions perpetuate their distress.

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