Negative Social Responses: An Exploration of What Are Considered Negative Social Responses, How They Impact Victims and How to Address Within a Counselling Session

Abstract

This thesis aims to describe negative social responses individuals receive following traumatic experiences and illustrates the impact they can have through a close examination of relevant literature along with several videotaped counselling sessions. The results indicate a lack of awareness by counsellors, support workers and the general population regarding negative social responses and their impact on individuals. Ullman’s (2000) Social Reaction Questionnaire is used to analyze and articulate specific examples of negative social responses in the videotaped counselling sessions. A Response Based framework was used in the counselling sessions and is suggested as one possible approach to elicit and contest negative social responses in practice.