” Sexual assault alert trigger », « activate child crime warning »… Surely you have already seen these warnings before a text or video, often with the abbreviation “TW”. Their use is increasingly democratized, especially on the Internet and in the militant environment. So much they have become essential tools conduct a debate or address certain topics in complete safety.
However, a recent study suggests it activate alerts I wouldn’t not so effective – or even that they would also have a rather harmful effect. A piece of news on which some right-wing opponents have to rub their hands, given that most consider these tools as useless childishness for fragile people…
Gold, the trauma is real that these warnings may, in some cases, temper.
We should then use the activate alerts ?
What and for whom are activation notices?
For some people, traumatic experiences can leave scars — psychological wounds that can resurface even several years later and reopen in the face of the triggers.
This is where activation alerts come into play. To avoid slipping back into past trauma without warning, these alerts allow you to do soindicate that a program or text is likely to contain offensive contentsuch as a rape scene or a description of domestic violence.
What many people forget, however, is that they trigger alerts they weren’t designed for the average person who would like to avoid feeling sad or remembering a heartache while watching a series or reading a novel cheese !
One of the criticisms that are often leveled at these warnings is that what is called à tire-larigot ” trauma has been extended to encompass” all and nothing “, including the most trivial things…
However, turn on the alerts they weren’t created to get around everyday ailments. ” They are specifically intended to help people suffering from PTSD “, specifies an article of the‘id. The magazine continues:
“Not everyone is traumatized; in fact it is possible to live horrible experiences without suffering trauma. It’s not a matter of strength of character: there are all kinds of variables that can determine whether or not an experience is traumatic.
Where left and right sometimes fail is that they overlook the fact that PTSD is a specific diagnosis with specific symptoms and parameters. »
In an article published last November in Madmoizelle, I explained, with the help of data from traumatic memory and victimology, what post-traumatic disorder :
“What are defined as psychotraumatic disorders are “all the immediate, post-immediate and then chronic psychic disorders that develop in a person following a traumatic event that threatened his physical and/or mental integrity.”. »
These disorders include a severe state of stress and angst, intrusive flashbacks or even dissociation – namely, problems with memory, attention or concentration.
It is therefore above all a matter of allowing those who are traumatized by certain subjects to do so prepare to read or view content and better manage their potential reactions.
Really Effective Activation Alerts?
Since the democratization of activation alerts, several voices have been raised to question its effectiveness. According to Payton Jones, a Harvard University researcher and co-author of the research Help or harm? The effect of activation alerts on people who have experienced trauma AND Trigger Alerts: Empirical evidence to come :
“We confirmed it activation alerts did not help trauma survivors prepare for potentially shocking content. In some cases, they’ve only made things worse. […]
I was surprised that something so small—a few triggering warnings during a brief experience—could affect how a person views their trauma.
In our culture, I think we place too much emphasis on the importance of trauma in a person’s life. Activation alerts are one example. »
According to the study’s researchers, these caveats appear to increase the extent to which people view trauma as central to their identity, which could worsen the impact of PTSD long term.
Let us, however, temper the findings of these gentlemen. Their studies included participants who do not suffer from PTSD, the results are somewhat skewed. If an attendee doesn’t have trauma, giving them a heads up before being exposed to potentially traumatic content isn’t going to make a huge difference, is it? This person may be disturbed, uncomfortable, but… traumatized?
Other studies, however, also suggest this the inclusion of activate alerts it would have little effect on people who have actually experienced a trauma:
“These analyzes suggest that opt-in alerts have insignificant effects, even in people to whom these alerts may be specifically directed.
Students are increasingly anxious…and the widespread adoption of trigger alerts in teaching programs may fuel this trend by tacitly encouraging students to turn to avoidance, thus depriving them of the opportunity to learn healthier ways to manage the potential discomfort. »
However, it is important to remember, once again, that the activate alerts they were never intended to cushion an ordinary shock, but were meant as a way for trauma survivors to do so decide whether or not to display the flagged content as potentially shocking.
It is therefore to provide an informed choice to people suffering from PTSD, but also to let them know that people are sensitive to their problems and concerns. As a ” we know you are having trouble with this topic, if you feel unable to address it, you can ignore this message validating and reassuring.
A survivor explains:
“A trigger warning is neither censorship nor avoidance of the topic. These disclaimers, or content notes, are an easy way to respect other people’s boundaries without invading their privacy. […]
My flashbacks may be triggered when I read about another family who lost their home to a fire, but a content alert helps me calm my hypervigilant brain and stay present. A trigger alert is a buffer for people like me, a much-needed respite from the onslaught of triggers we can’t avoid. »
Between scientific studies and personal feelings, it’s sometimes hard to know exactly what to do to avoid hurting people as much as possible. Common sense, empathy, benevolence and open-mindedness are therefore our best advice: approach particularly sensitive topics with a little caution, and know how to listen if you are told that you have hurt someone unintentionally!
Photo credits: Polina Tankilevich and Anna Tarazevich (Pexels)
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
