I have developed my own trauma theory called The Steel Jacket: Antecedents of Trauma. Where my theory and her theory dovetail is the notion that one cannot totally subsume the trauma because there was no a priori knowledge that something so overwhelming was about to happen. Though bones may be broken, Caruth suggests the trauma is an affront to the mind. What my theory tries to resolve is the question of intuition. Can people somehow become so highly aware and attuned that they develop a critical insight that allows them to avert the unspeakable. For example, "just knowing" that they should delay going to the grocery store to avoid a horrific crash. My theory also explores time and timeline as an artificial construct.

Cathy Caruth's Trauma Theory is not a traditional trauma theory in the sense of a well-established and universally accepted framework. Instead, it represents a significant development in the field of trauma studies that challenges and expands upon traditional approaches.

Caruth's work has had a profound influence on how we understand trauma, particularly in the context of literature and cultural studies.

Here are some key points about Cathy Caruth's Trauma Theory:

In summary, Cathy Caruth's Trauma Theory represents a departure from traditional trauma theories by emphasizing the complex, elusive, and delayed nature of trauma experiences.

Her work has had a significant impact on the study of trauma, especially within the fields of literature and cultural studies, and has encouraged scholars to approach trauma from a more interdisciplinary and nuanced perspective.