PPT I created for a group presentation in my SOWK 503 Human Behavior course regarding article on the relation between combat-related trauma experience and male ego development, in addition to the impact of trauma on employment, marital and legal behavior.

1. Crystal Gordon and Jennifer Jantz
SOWK 503

2. Key Points
Examined the relation between combat-related trauma
experience and male ego development.
The impact of trauma on employment, marital and
legal behavior.
 Trauma is prevalent among combat veterans.

3. Key Point
The mean age of the
Vietnam combatant
was approximately
19.5 years
(typical veteran -
crucial developmental
stage)

4. Examples
Instruments:
The Ego Identity Scale
Defense Style
Questionnaire
Impact of Event scale
Procedures:
Inpatients & outpatients
completed
questionnaires
All data collections were
anonymous and
voluntary.

5. Strengths & Weaknesses
No females veterans
were surveyed

6. What did you find interesting, unique and
important in the article?
 Almost one million (960,000) Vietnam veterans have been
diagnosed as suffering from symptoms of combat-related
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Kulka et al., 1990).

7. What did you find interesting, unique and
important in the article?
Combat veterans:
Have a lower ego development
Have lower levels of identity achievement
o The greater the stress of the combat experience,
the lower the level of identity achievement
Use more maladaptive defenses

8. What did you find interesting, unique and
important in the article?
Combat veterans:
Have more:
o Failed marriages
o Employment problems
o Legal difficulties
Each of these variables (marriage, employment, legal
history) correlate with measures of ego development.
(Silverstein, 1995)

9. What did you find interesting, unique and
important in the article?
Those who experienced trauma during critical life
transitions were more vulnerable to post-traumatic
maladjustment (Laufer, 1988; Van der Kolk, 1985; Wilson, 1980).
o Age of the trauma (adolescence) was a factor

10. Implications for social work practice.
 Ego psychology focuses on the mind’s development in
interaction with the social and physical world so it allows
therapists with a theoretical framework for:
o Repairing the effects of arrested, incomplete, or distorted
psychosocial development, and
o Facilitating a better fit between the psychological needs of
the individual and the normative expectations of society
(Unit 6/Ego Psychology Retrieved from: https://vac.msw.usc.edu/mod/page/view.php?id=87978)

11. Implications for social work practice.
Working with veterans who have experienced combat-
related trauma requires an understanding of the impact
of the event within the developmental perspective
(Silverstein, 1994).
Findings of the study show a relation between trauma
processing and ego development (Silverstein, 1995).

12. What are considerations based on the Social
Work Code of Ethics…
Social work professional’s focus:
oWell-being of the individual (Service value)
oWell-being of society (Service value)

13. What are considerations based on the Social
Work Code of Ethics…
 Promotion of social justice and social change (Social Justice
value)
o Pursue social change with and on behalf of vulnerable
individuals such as our veterans with PTSD
o Promote sensitivity to and knowledge about PTSD
o Ensure access to and advocate for needed information,
services and resources for individuals with PTSD and their
families

14. What are considerations based on the Social
Work Code of Ethics…
Silverstein wrote in 1995 that the Veterans Administration
has started to implement such treatment plans in their
PTSD units.
Based on the volume and needs of today, these services
are not enough to meet the demand.
Social workers are called to advocate for more services
and resources for our veterans and their families.