Explain why one person experiencing the same kind of traumatic incident as another person might or might not experience PTSD.

Students' answers may vary.Key terms and concepts that may be included in student responses:
▪ The context in which the traumatic experience occurs is a predictor of the diagnosis of PTSD.
▪ Contextual factors that influence PTSD include: severity, duration, proximity.
▪ Greater intensity, longer duration or repetition, and proximity are more likely to lead to PTSD than shorter experiences, especially if less intense or farther away.
▪ Example: A person at the World Trade Towers attack was more likely to experience PTSD than a person living in a nearby neighborhood of New York City.