The Trauma Paradigm: From Shell Shock to Trauma-Informed Everything

The Trauma Paradigm From Shell Shock to Trauma-Informed EverythingHow did trauma evolve from a battlefield diagnosis into the dominant explanation for modern human suffering?In this incisive and timely book, psychologist Elizabeth McLean traces the remarkable journey of the trauma paradigm—from World War I “shell shock” and Vietnam-era PTSD to the ACEs Study, Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score, Polyvagal Theory, somatic experiencing, and the rise of “trauma-informed everything” in schools, workplaces, prisons, and beyond.With scholarly rigor and intellectual honesty, McLean examines the paradigm’s profound contributions to empathy, prevention, and care while fearlessly addressing its risks: concept creep, overpathologization of normal adversity, erosion of agency, and the underestimation of human resilience and post-traumatic growth.Blending historical insight, scientific critique, cultural analysis, and forward-looking recommendations, this book offers a balanced roadmap for harnessing trauma’s insights without allowing it to become a master narrative that diminishes resilience or meaning.Essential reading for clinicians, educators, policymakers, students, and anyone seeking to understand one of the most influential—and contested—frameworks shaping psychology and society today.Elizabeth McLean is a PsyD candidate in Human and Organizational Psychology and the author of over fifty books on psychological theory and practice. With a background in emergency services, she brings rare clarity and real-world perspective to the study of trauma, resilience, and human flourishing.“A much-needed critical yet compassionate examination of how trauma became our master story—and how we can move forward with wisdom.” Read more