Read the scenario on p, 283 of Positive Psychology.

 

Write a 1,050word paper including the following:

• Describe in detail the thoughts and emotions you felt while imagining the scenario.
• If you did experience this event, how do you think you would handle the final moments?
• If you did experience this event, how would you describe your life up to this point.
• In what ways can traumatic events be opportunities for growth?

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

 

(text)Imagine that you are visiting a friend

who lives on the 20th floor of an old,

downtown apartment building. It’s the

middle of the night when you are suddenly

awakened from a deep sleep by

the sound of screams and the choking

smell of smoke. You reach over to the

nightstand and turn on the light. You

are shocked to find the room filling fast

with thick clouds of smoke. You run to

the door and reach for the handle. You

pull back in pain as the intense heat of

the knob scalds you violently. Grabbing

a blanket off the bed and using it as

protection, you manage to turn the handle

and open the door. Almost immediately,

a huge wave of flame and smoke

pours into the room, knocking you

back and literally off your feet. There is

no way to leave the room. It is getting

very hard to breathe and the heat from

the flames is almost unbearable.

Panicked, you scramble to the only

window in the room and try to open it.

As you struggle, you realize that the old

window is virtually painted shut around

all the edges. It doesn’t budge. Your

eyes are barely open now, filled with

tears from the smoke. You try calling

for help but the air to form the words is

not here. You drop to the floor hoping

to escape the rising smoke, but it is too

late. The room is filled top to bottom

with thick fumes and nearly entirely

in flames. With your heart pounding,

it suddenly hits you, as time seems

to stand still, that you are literally

moments away from dying. The

inevitable unknown that was always

waiting for you has finally arrived. Out

of breath and weak, you shut your eyes

and wait for the end.

After reading this death scenario, participants

were asked to answer the following questions

(Cozzolino