Inaugural lecture by Professor Silvia Exenberger-Vanham
On Wednesday 18 March 2026, the Karl Landsteiner Private University hosted the inaugural lecture by Professor Silvia Exenberger-Vanham. In her lecture, entitled “Positive and negative effects of trauma: a cultural perspective” , Professor Exenberger-Vanham examined the effects of trauma on people of all ages.
The event was opened by Rector Prof. Andrea Olschewski, DDr., MSc. The laudatory address was delivered by the psychologist Prof. Barbara Juden, PhD, Head of Psychosocial Services at the Austrian Red Cross.
In her inaugural lecture, Professor Exenberger-Vanham used selected examples from her own research to demonstrate how people from different cultures perceive and cope with stress in different ways. These findings also gave rise to a central principle for clinical psychological practice: the holistic understanding of the individual, with all their resources, strengths and challenges.
The inaugural lecture thus offered a comprehensive insight into culturally shaped coping mechanisms whilst emphasising the potential for positive developments following traumatic experiences.
