Abstract
Arguing that neuroscience has not contributed very much to our understanding of trauma theory, this chapter takes a detailed look at the limits of neuroimaging. Bessel van der Kolk, a proponent of neuroimaging, is seen to actually make a significant contribution to our understanding of trauma, but only because he praises neuroimaging while practicing an eclectic therapy based on body work, such as massage, as well as more traditional approaches. The question we should be asking is what trauma means, and the answer is that trauma is an experience that makes it impossible to live in and enjoy the present. The chapter concludes by arguing that there is something about our culture that makes individuals particularly susceptible to PTSD.
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Alford, C.F. (2016). The Meaning of Trauma and the Place of Neuroscience. In: Trauma, Culture, and PTSD. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57600-2_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57600-2_5
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