| dc.description.abstract | When tragedy strikes, people feel a need to do something. Whether that includes raising money, awareness, or morale, the desire to do something meaningful is often overwhelming following a traumatic event. I sought to understand the psychological impact of a crisis and how it can be changed. I, along with a majority of the Stillwater, Oklahoma community, was deeply affected by the Homecoming parade tragedy that occurred in the Fall of 2015, the semester prior to writing my thesis and graduating from Oklahoma State University. Being very near to where the accident occurred just minutes before the impact, was traumatizing and my personal aftermath spiraled into a full blown existential crisis, but it also led me to ask myself some very important questions about, not only my own recovery process, but also the recovery process of those much more directly affected than myself. Returning to work at the campus police department after the incident was difficult. Trying to distance myself from the source of the trauma while being surrounded by reports, videos, and phone calls directly related to the incident was impossible. Although painful, this experience and my background in studying human resources led me to start thinking about how difficult it can be to emotionally recover from a crisis when that crisis occurs in or near the work environment. Further, I wanted to know how first responders, such as my very own co-workers, were seemingly able to bounce back quicker than myself following emotional trauma, and if there was a way to translate the answer to employees in any organization. | |
