Award Date

August 2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

First Committee Member

Colleen Parks

Second Committee Member

Renato Liboro

Third Committee Member

Stephen Benning

Fourth Committee Member

Sheila Bock

Number of Pages

57

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to identify patterns of meaning in the trauma narratives of Route 91 Harvest survivors. We undertook a thematic analysis to examine survivors’ narratives collected shortly after the event (i.e., within one month), allowing for a more in-depth understanding of what survivors tended to emphasize or gravitate toward when recalling the episode of mass violence that resulted in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. From the rich thematic content emerged a dominant theme of memory for contextual details—specifically, sensory-perceptual features, time, and space. Specifically, Route 91 Harvest survivors reported vivid sensory experiences, a subjective slowing of time, and detailed spatial awareness during their escape. Additionally, the themes of physical injuries, acts of heroism, and contemplating one’s mortality also emerged. Overall, the current study adds to the scant literature examining the experiences of mass shooting survivors and highlights the complexity and intensity associated with how traumatic events are experienced and remembered.

Keywords

mass shooting; memory; narrative; thematic analysis; trauma

Disciplines

Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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