Why do the individuals involved in a critical incident respond so differently to it? Research has indicated a number of pre- and post-incident factors that seem to determine who subsequently struggles and who quickly resiles. One of those identified factors is tied to how people attribute meaning to the event and their participation in it. Remember, it’s about the impact, not the incident. A study by Clark found that a primary indicator can be found in whether or not the individual perceived their post-incident reactions as due to some personal weakness or short-coming. Another study by Ray found that “It is important to note that it is not the coping skills that individuals have or do not have that are important. What counts are the coping skills that individuals believe they have or do not.”

Consider these findings as they pertain to workplace violence. Violence feels personal whether the victim knew the assailant or not. “Why did the perpetrator pick me?” “There are six teller stations in this bank. Did he see me as the softest target?” “I felt so powerless and weak.” If victims of violence attribute personal weakness to both their selection as target and to their experience of troubling physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive reactions it creates a difficult challenge for critical incident responders. Immediate application of psychological first aid that helps people access personal strengths and resiliency supports is crucial to reverse self-attribution from victim to survivor.

In this addition of PracticePoints we wanted to share with you some resources that we trust will be of value to all those engaged in preventing, preparing, or responding to incidents of workplace violence. Those actions may make all the difference.

Regards,

Bob VandePol, President