Paul Valent sees that the dialectic is not between "life and death" but between "life and trauma." This text theorizes that the big issues of life can now be approached through the science of traumatology. Through communication with, and observation of, people whose lives have been stretched under stress or disrupted by trauma, the fulfilling components of their lives can be defined, oriented and categorized. It introduces the theory on the back of clinical and historical material, examining the current state of such concepts as stress, trauma, defences, memories, post post-traumatic stress disorder, and other illnesses. It should be of interest to those in the healing professions or to those who work with traumatized individuals, lawyers, social workers, clergy and those in the humanities in general.

Preface -- Acknowledgments -- PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FIELD OF TRAUMATOLOGY -- Chapter 1 Introduction to the Magnitude and Complexity of the Field of Traumatology -- Case 1: The Ash Wednesday Bush Fires -- Case 2: A Case of Angina in the Emergency Department -- Case 3: A Child Survivor of the Holocaust -- The Wholist Perspective to Help -- and Understand Traumatic Stress Responses -- Chapter 2 Features of Stress and -- in Different Traumatic Situations -- War -- The Holocaust -- Natural Disasters -- Accidents -- Physical Assault, Rape, and Torture -- Sexual Assault of Children and Incest -- Psychosomatic Medicine -- Dying and Bereavement -- Lessons from Across Different Traumatic Situations -- PART 2 THE TRIAXIAL FRAMEWORK: THE PROCESS, PARAMETERS, AND DEPTH AXES AS COORDINATES FOR ORIENTATION OF CONCEPTS IN TRAUMATIC STRESS AND FULFILLMENT -- Chapter 3 Components of Axis 1, the Process Axis -- Stressors -- Appraisals -- Stress -- Stress Responses -- Vulnerabilities -- Strengths -- Trauma -- Defenses -- Memories -- Chapter 4 Components of Axis 2, the Parameters Axis -- Factors in Traumatic Situations -- Phases of Traumatic Situations -- Social System Levels -- Developmental Phases -- Chapter 5 Components of Axis 3, the Depth Axis -- A Hierarchy of Human Function Levels -- Fulfillment and Traumatization at -- Function Levels -- The Life-Trauma Dialectic: The Purpose of Life -- Chapter 6 Illnesses and the Triaxial Framework -- Historical Background -- Phenomenological Stream of Stress and Trauma Illness -- Dynamic Stream -- Phenomenological and Dynamic Streams in Children -- Other Theories of Trauma Illnesses -- The Triaxial Framework Applied to Views of Illnesses -- PART 3 SURVIVAL STRATEGIES: AN OCTAVE FOR THE SYMPHONY OF TRAUMATIC STRESS AND FULFILLMENT -- Chapter 7 Introduction to Survival Strategies -- Evolution and Strategies of Survival -- Precursors to Survival Strategies -- Survival Strategies -- The Eight Survival Strategies and Appraisals that Evoke Them -- Chapter 8 Rescue-Caretaking -- Axis 1: The Process Axis -- Axis 2: Parameters Axis -- Axis 3: Fulfillment and Trauma Along the Depth Axis -- Chapter 9 Attachment -- Axis 1: The Process Axis -- Axis 2: Parameters Axis -- Axis 3: Fulfillment and Trauma Along the Depth Axis -- Chapter 10 Assertiveness: Goal Achievement -- Axis 1: The Process Axis -- Axis 2: Parameters Axis -- Axis 3: Fulfillment and Trauma Along the Depth Axis -- Chapter 11 Adaptation: Goal Surrender -- Axis 1: The Process Axis -- Axis 2: Parameters Axis -- Axis 3: Fulfillment and Trauma Along the Depth Axis -- Chapter 12 Fight: Defense -- Axis 1: The Process Axis -- Axis 2: Parameters Axis -- Axis 3: Fulfillment and Trauma Along the Depth Axis -- Chapter 13 Flight: Escape -- Axis 1: The Process Axis -- Axis 2: Parameters Axis -- Axis 3: Fulfillment and Trauma Along the Depth Axis -- Chapter 14 Competition: Struggle -- Axis 1: The Process Axis -- Axis 2: Parameters Axis -- Axis 3: Fulfillment and Trauma Along the Depth Axis -- Chapter 15 Cooperation: Love -- Axis 1: The Process Axis -- Axis 2: Parameters Axis -- Axis 3: Fulfillment and Trauma Along the Depth Axis -- PART 4 THE WHOLIST PERSPECTIVE: AN INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK OF TRAUMATIC STRESS AND FULFILLMENT -- Chapter 16 The Wholist View of Traumatic Stress -Making Sense Within the Life-Trauma Dialectic -- An Elegant Model for the Life-Trauma Dialectic -- Applications of the Wholist Perspective -- Chapter 17 Conclusion: From Survival to Fulfillment -- References -- Name Index -- Subject Index.