Finding social benefits after a collective trauma: Perceiving societal changes and well‐being following 9/11

Abstract

Individuals frequently perceive positive changes in themselves following adversity; after a collective trauma, they may perceive such benefits in others or in their society as well. We examined perceived benefits of the September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks in a 3‐year study of a national sample of adults (N = 1382). Many individuals (57.8%) perceived social benefits of 9/11, including increased prosocial behavior, religiousness, or political engagement. Individuals who found increased national religiosity as a benefit 2 months post‐9/11 reported greater positive affect and life satisfaction and lower distress and posttraumatic stress up to 3 years post‐9/11. Pre‐9/11 religiousness and Republican political affiliation predicted perceiving religion‐related social benefits post‐9/11. Perceptions of social change are important but understudied responses to stressful events.

Historical group victimization entails moral obligations for descendants

“…This idea is prominent in contemporary Americans' descriptions of their lives where suffering is believed to ultimately bring redemption and fulfillment (Baumeister, 1991;McAdams, 2006). Indeed, victims themselves often report deriving benefits following traumatic experiences including learning what is really important in life and becoming a kinder, more understanding person (Affleck et al, 1987;Bower et al, 2009;Davis et al, 1998;Lazar et al, 2004;Poulin et al, 2009;Taylor, 1983). Witnesses of traumatic events can similarly make meaning of adversity by deriving benefits for the victims, which results in higher expectations that those victims will display tolerance toward others (Fernández et al, 2014).…”

“…We argue that the extent to which observers engage in benefit finding for victims has important implications for judgments regarding subsequent victim actions. Although one recent study has examined how observers who share a group membership with the victims attempt to derive meaning from their fellow group members' suffering as a result of the terrorist attack on 9/11 (see Poulin et al, 2009), the present research examines how third-party observers may come to expect the descendants of those who were victimized to be especially moral in their treatment of others. We assess whether the greater moral virtue that is expected of the descendants of those who suffered intergroup violence is linked with observers' benefit finding for the victims.…”

What should we expect after the next attack?

“…Many individuals will see positive consequences such as closer ties with family members and a greater appreciation of the freedoms that they enjoy (Poulin, Silver, Gil-Rivas, Holman, & Mclntosh, 2009). Existing social groups and community organizations will mobilize effectively, drawing on the resources, experience, and personal relations that they have developed over time (Norris, Stevens, Pfefferbaum, Wyche, & Pfefferbaum, 2008).…”

Benefit finding as a moderator of the relationship between spirituality/religiosity and drinking

“…Concurrently, religion often promotes benefit finding as a component of S/R practices, which may then mean these individuals do not feel the need to cope with stress by using alcohol or other substances. Religious coping has previously been shown to moderate the relationship between stress and alcohol use among female college students (Stoltzfus & Farkas, 2012), and benefit finding was shown to lower levels of stress and post-traumatic stress following the September 11 th terrorist attacks (Poulin, Silver, Gil-Rivas, Holman, & McIntosh, 2009). Additionally, heavy drinkers often use alcohol to cope with negative emotions (Ostafin & Brooks, 2011).…”