Abstract
A retrospective cross-sectional study with a sample of 304 university students and relatives asked about themost important recent extreme life change events, its impact on basic beliefs and on personal growth followingthe life event. Positive events reinforce positive basic beliefs much more than negative events transformthese beliefs from positive to neutral. On the other hand, positive events transform them from positive intohighly positive. It was also found that extreme positive events generate as much growth or flourishing afterits onset as negative events. The development of new possibilities and changes of life priorities are producedby both positive and negative extreme events. Negative events specifically produce growth effects ofreinforcement of personal strength and of valuing social support. Changes in basic beliefs are congruentlyassociated with personal growth in the case of positive and ambivalent events.
