Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 15:1–16, 2014 Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1529-9732 print/1529-9740 online DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2013.853722 Acute Peritraumatic Dissociation: In Favor of a Phenomenological Inquiry YOCHAI ATARIA Program for the History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science, Q2 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel 5 Fundamental aspects of trauma—among them dissociation dur- ing trauma, which is considered 1 of the strongest predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder—are not fully understood. This arti- cle argues that the application of the phenomenological structure of time and the phenomenological description of the self (min- 10 imal self, sense of ownership, sense of agency, sense of self) to dissociation during trauma can improve our understanding of this phenomenon—at its occurrence and during any possible ensu- ing symptoms. In addition, it is argued that the phenomenological approach, as a method that focuses on the bodily level of expe- 15 rience, in particular the body as it is experienced from within, enables us to penetrate the traumatic experience. Thus, by apply- ing the phenomenological approach we may be able to improve our understanding of the traumatic experience and enable the development of better treatment. 20 KEYWORDS peritraumatic dissociation, phenomenology, sense of agency, sense of ownership, sense of time INTRODUCTION There is a tendency to link dissociation occurring during trauma to Q3 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; (van der Hart, Nijenhuis, & Steele, 2005). 25 Individuals who display peritraumatic dissociation—a manifestation of acute integrative failure (Nijenhuis, van der Hart, & Steele, 2010) occurring at the Received 16 December 2012; accepted 30 September 2013. Address correspondence to Yochai Ataria, Program for the History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. E-mail: yochai.ataria@gmail.com 1 1 (PTSD; (van der Hart, Nijenhuis, & Steele, 2005).