Expectations of individual regarding self-esteem and personal competency are mediators of behavior. Traumatic experience can effect and modify both self-esteem and perceived competency and in that way determine individual behavior.

of this study is to assess impact of intensity of traumatic experience on level of self-esteem and perceived competency of individual.

In this research two groups of participants were included. Group G1 consisted from 21 individuals, clients of Center for victims of torture, who survived different highly stressful traumatic experiences including torture. Group G2 consisted from 21 individuals who survived different traumatic experiences without being tortured. For this research 4 psychological instruments were used: Socio-demographic questionnaire, List of stressful life events, Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale and Rosenberg Perceived Competency scale. In this research T- test method of statistical analysis was used.

According to List of stressful life events participants from group G1 were highly traumatized comparing with group G2 who showed lower level of traumatization.(p<0,01) On perceived competency scale and self- esteem scale group G1(highly traumatized) showed lower scores comparing with group G2 (less traumatized). (p<0,01).

Higher level of exposure and higher intensity of traumatic experiences is leading to decreased perception of self competency and lower self- esteem within survivors.