An experimental examination of the situational variables that influence the traumatic stress response

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that trauma characteristics influence posttraumatic outcomes. Dangerous life-threatening events are associated with fear and anxiety; moral transgressions with guilt, shame and anger; perpetrating moral transgressions with self-conscious moral emotions (e.g., guilt, shame); and witnessing transgressions with other-condemning moral emotions (e.g., contempt, disgust). However, research linking situational features to posttraumatic outcomes is limited. This study investigated the influence of trauma-related situational variables on cognitive-emotional appraisals of stressful events. METHOD: = 131). After each vignette, participants provided ratings of self-conscious and other-condemning emotions and cognitions, and fear on a 7-point scale. RESULTS: = .085). CONCLUSION: Findings strengthen the theoretical rationale for integrating situational factors into conceptualizations of posttraumatic outcomes.