Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

Coaching Psychologist. Author, Think Like A Therapist. Six Life-Changing Insights for Leading a Good Life

Stephen Joseph is a professor of psychology, health and social care at the University of Nottingham, UK, where he is co-director of the Centre for Trauma, Resilience and Growth and an honorary consultant psychologist in psychotherapy. He has published more than two hundred academic papers, seven academic books and is the author of What Doesn’t Kill Us (Piatkus).

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Philosopher's Notes on Stephen Joseph Ph.D.'s Books

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What Doesn't Kill Us

by Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

Stephen Joseph is one of the world’s leading researchers on the science of posttraumatic growth. He is also a professor and therapist. He started his career studying posttraumatic stress. In the process, he saw that many people experienced significant growth as a result of the stress they endured--at which point, he started developing his ideas on posttraumatic growth. Fast-forward a few decades and here we are. the title is a play on Nietzsche’s famous dictum: “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” While the sub-title perfectly captures the focus of the book: “The New Psychology of Posttraumatic Growth.” Big Ideas we explore include: Eudaimonic Treadmills (note: there aren't any!), posttraumatic growth (and how to use stress as the engine for growth), the shattered vase (taking the pieces and making an antifragile mosaic), harvesting hope (the 1 + 2 + 3s for trauma survivors).

Quotes by Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

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In one study published in 2010, investigators examined the results of a survey conducted by 5,630 people when they were fifty-five to fifty-six years of age and, again, when they were sixty-five to sixty-six. Those who scored higher on a measure of eudaimonic well-being at the younger age were over seven times less likely to be depressed ten years later than those whose scores were lower.

Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

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Eudaimonism, then, refers to a life dedicated to seeking meaning, engagement with the existential challenges of life, and the actualization of human potential, whereas hedonism refers to a life dedicated to seeking pleasure, happiness, and enjoyment.

Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

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When we experience psychological trauma, our bodies go into shock and our minds are overwhelmed. Imagine a Christmas snow globe. Shake it and the snow flurries; over time, it settles. How long the snow remains unsettled depends on how vigorously the globe was shaken in the first place. So it is, with the trauma that shakes up our mental world.

Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

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Social support is probably at its most valuable when it motivates people to take responsibility of their lives.

Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

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The idea that human beings are constantly striving to increase their eudaimonic well-being as best they can is one of the biggest philosophical ideas in the history of psychology. [Carl] Rogers used this example to convey the idea that there is a natural and inherent driving force within humans, a force he called the actualizing tendency.

Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

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Trauma can leave people feeling less inclined to care what other people think about their successes and failures in life. They become less concerned with facades. They realize that what ultimately matters is what we think of ourselves.

Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

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It’s not enough to intellectually reframe our experiences in positive terms. We must also express our growth in new behaviors. In short, we have to put growth into action.

Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

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Thus we each need to learn to lead our lives knowing that adversity is always around the corner. When trauma strikes, we must be ready and resilient, prepared to confront stark realities, open to change, and oriented toward using our suffering wisely.

Stephen Joseph Ph.D.