Innovation, controversy, and consensus in traumatology

Controversy follows innovation and threats to the status quo in many social domains, including the sciences. This article briefly summarizes information from the philosophy of science and data from studies of conflict in diverse fields. It then introduces two independent contemporary controversies in traumatology -- a new clinical method called EMDR and the Final Report of the APA Working Group on memories of childhood abuse -- and considers them within a broader context of the historical rift between psychological research and practice. The aim is to step outside the frame of specific conflicts and identify differences in philosophical orientation and values that contribute to communication difficulties and associated conflict between partisans. Approaches are offered toward building consensus within the field.

Journal

English

David Baldwin

Baldwin, D. (1997). Innovation, controversy, and consensus in traumatology. Traumatology, 3(1), 7-22. doi:10.1177/153476569700300103