Trauma-Informed Lens Podcast

Episode 30: Rigidity Thinking and Behavior Resulting from Trauma

Posted on April 10, 2018

Podcasters: Matt Bennett, Curt Mower, & Dr. Jerry Yager

The trauma symptom of rigid thinking and behavior was a constant theme in our first 29 episodes.  In this episode, Matt, Curt, and Jerry will explore this topic in greater detail. Recognizing rigid thinking and behaviors help us to identify people who are struggling with trauma and helps build empathy and compassion for specific behaviors that might otherwise frustrate us. Like so many consequences of trauma, rigidity in thought and behavior serves as a coping skill in high stress or traumatic environments but quickly become maladaptive in others.

Discussion questions:

• Can you identify rigid thinking or behavior in anyone you are working with or worked with in the past?
• How has rigid thinking or behaviors served as a coping or survival skill in the environments which those you worked with?
• How can we help those with rigid mindset increase flexibility?
• Can you identify any rigidity in your program, organization, or system?