A trauma trigger is an experience that triggers a traumatic memory in someone who has experienced trauma. A trigger is thus a troubling reminder of a traumatic event, although the trigger itself need not be frightening or traumatic.
Triggers can be quite diverse, appearing in the form of individual people, places, noises, images, smells, tastes, emotions, animals, films, scenes within films, dates of the year, tones of voice, body positions, bodily sensations, weather conditions, time factors, or combinations thereof. Triggers can be subtle and difficult to anticipate, and can sometimes exacerbate post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition in which trauma survivors cannot control the recurrence of emotional or physical symptoms, or of repressed memory. A trauma trigger may also be referred to as a trauma stimulus or a trauma stressor.
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Film trigger warnings
An
article written by Victoria Brewster for http://www.thefword.org.uk
In January the Hollywood
adaptation of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was released in the cinema, and there
was a lot of TV advertising. The trailers were pretty slick, so it took me a
while before I got bored enough of them to read the small-print consumer warning
at the bottom of the screen. I was very surprised to read it warned of scenes of
"violence and strong sex". I had seen the Swedish adaptation already, and knew
that it featured one of the most brutal rape scenes I've ever seen on film. When
this part of the film comes on, I have to either leave the room or physically
hide my face.
Part of the reason I am
affected so strongly is because, like around a quarter of the female
population I have been the victim of sexual assault. This has led to
post-traumatic stress disorder, and I am sometimes 'triggered' by visual media.
The term 'trigger' stems from cognitive behavioural therapy, and means something
that can bring about a viscerally real memory of the traumatic event. Some
websites (and most feminist websites) will post 'trigger warnings' on content
that discusses common triggers, such as descriptions/depictions of sexual
assault.
It was surprising, then,
that a film which obviously would be covering a very graphic and violent rape
scene did not properly warn against it. After all, "strong sex" could mean
anything. It could just as easily mean there were very graphic but consensual
sex scenes, as scenes of rape against both a man and a woman. If I were going to
see the film for the first time without having any other experience of The Girl
with the Dragon Tattoo, I wouldn't have expected to see rape. As it happens, I
didn't go and see the film in the cinema, not wanting to risk a panic attack.
Forewarned is forearmed.
But this vague wording of
a consumer warning made me wonder just how often people (mostly women) who
suffer PTSD are properly warned about films they're going to see, or DVDs
they're going to buy. Every film released in the UK is subject to a rating by
the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) - this is the PG, 12A, 15 or 18
rating that we all know about. But the majority of films also have a brief
description of what content in the film has brought about the board's decision.
On a DVD, this appears in the little coloured square on the back of the cover.
In a cinema release, it's a bit more hit and miss. Some trailers, like the one
for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, will have it in small print at the bottom
of the screen, while others might have it on the cinema listing, or appear
before the film begins. But the consumer ratings for all film releases, past and
present, can be found at the BBFC website.
With the help of Twitter,
my friends and family, and a few movie-geek message boards, I compiled a list of
61 films with various ratings that featured scenes of rape or sexual abuse. Most
of these were 15 or 18 rated films, but there were five rated PG or 12/12A. What
surprised me most was that, of these five low-rated films, none of them warned
of any kind of sexual violence. There were warnings for sex scenes, violent
activity, swearing - but nothing suggesting that these could be particularly
harmful to RSA victims. Of the higher rated films, only 31% of the 15s and 35%
of the 18s warned of sexual violence. None of the films' warnings used the word
'rape'.
It could be argued that
the job of the BBFC is not to protect adults, but to advise parents so that
children don't stumble onto something they're too young to handle. But the BBFC
website says they consider "the possible effect not only on children but also on
other vulnerable people". Besides which, although I don't have children, I would
think that most parents would want to be forewarned if the film their child is
about to watch features someone being raped. The BBFC prints consumer content
warnings anyway. How much more ink is needed to write four letters: R A P
E?
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this website lists quite a lot of potentially triggering movies:
below is a small list of movies / tv shows with potential triggers.
Mysterious Skin (contains male rape and themes of child abuse), American History X (male rape and attempted rape/ intimidation)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (contains attempted rape in season 6),
South Park and Family Guy (contain 'jokes' making light of rape/abuse throughout),
A Clockwork Orange (contains rape/ attempted rape/ intimidation)
Creep (contains attempted rape and torture),
The Doors (contains domestic abuse/ violence),
Bully, Frenzy, Platoon, Extremities, Apocalypto, Blue Velvet, Straw Dogs, Deliverance, Flesh+Blood, Scum (1979), The Accused
Pariah (1998), Stir of Echoes, Shame (1987), Shame (1992)
Boys Don't Cry, Monster (2003), Hannie Caulder, Buster and Billie
Thelma & Louise, The Virgin Spring, Rosemary's Baby
The Joy Luck Club, Death Wish (1974), Murder One (1988)
When She Says No, Two Women (1960), She Said No (1990)
Sudden Impact (1983), Something Wild (1961), Macon County Jail,
Pariah (1998), Stir of Echoes, Shame (1987), Shame (1992)
Boys Don't Cry, Monster (2003), Hannie Caulder, Buster and Billie
Thelma & Louise, The Virgin Spring, Rosemary's Baby
The Joy Luck Club, Death Wish (1974), Murder One (1988)
When She Says No, Two Women (1960), She Said No (1990)
Sudden Impact (1983), Something Wild (1961), Macon County Jail,
The Rape of Richard Beck, Jackson County Jail (1976), Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, Untamed Heart (attempted rape)
The Violation of Sarah McDavid, Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge
Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story, West Side Story (attempted)
Sin & Redemption, Breaking Bad (marital), The Glass House aka Truman Capote's The Glass House, Things Behind the Sun (2001) (The IMDB reviews of this mention the power of the rape scenes, that they are truly horrific.) Rob Zombie's Unrated version of Halloween, The Crow, Deliverance, I Spit on Your Grave, Death Wish I, II and III, Bastards out of Carolina, The Accused, The Notorious Betty Page (implied), Cape Fear, Holocaust (implied), The Devil's Advocate (implied), Salo, Irreversible, GI Jane, The Last House on the Left, Audition, North Country, Casualties of War, Anatomy of a Murder, A Patch of Blue, J.D's Revenge, Soldier Blue, Something Wild, Sudden Impact, What's Love Got to do With it?, Black Snake Moan, The Hills Have Eyes, The Duchess, The General's Daughter, A Serbian Film, Lipstick, Blindness, Hounddog, The Walking Dead (TV Series, Freeze Me, Hounddog, Boys Don't Cry, Monster, The Evil Dead, Multiple Maniacs, American Me, Trust, Happiness, Mountain of the Cannibal God, The Human Centipede 2, The Witch Who Came From The Sea, Showgirls, The Big Racket, Portrait of a Serial Killer, Forced Entry, Compliance, Banana Cue, The Devil's Advocate (implied)
The Violation of Sarah McDavid, Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge
Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story, West Side Story (attempted)
Sin & Redemption, Breaking Bad (marital), The Glass House aka Truman Capote's The Glass House, Things Behind the Sun (2001) (The IMDB reviews of this mention the power of the rape scenes, that they are truly horrific.) Rob Zombie's Unrated version of Halloween, The Crow, Deliverance, I Spit on Your Grave, Death Wish I, II and III, Bastards out of Carolina, The Accused, The Notorious Betty Page (implied), Cape Fear, Holocaust (implied), The Devil's Advocate (implied), Salo, Irreversible, GI Jane, The Last House on the Left, Audition, North Country, Casualties of War, Anatomy of a Murder, A Patch of Blue, J.D's Revenge, Soldier Blue, Something Wild, Sudden Impact, What's Love Got to do With it?, Black Snake Moan, The Hills Have Eyes, The Duchess, The General's Daughter, A Serbian Film, Lipstick, Blindness, Hounddog, The Walking Dead (TV Series, Freeze Me, Hounddog, Boys Don't Cry, Monster, The Evil Dead, Multiple Maniacs, American Me, Trust, Happiness, Mountain of the Cannibal God, The Human Centipede 2, The Witch Who Came From The Sea, Showgirls, The Big Racket, Portrait of a Serial Killer, Forced Entry, Compliance, Banana Cue, The Devil's Advocate (implied)
If triggers in films are a problem for you, I also recommend finding a film you're thinking of watching on IMDb first, there is a section called 'parent's guide' for each movie with full details of potentially disturbing scenes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065421/parentalguide
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065421/parentalguide
another online list of movies with potential triggers:
they have also compiled a list of tv programs with the same:
and books:
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That's My Boy
informtion taken from http://annyjacoby.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/new-adam-sandler-movie-thats-my-boy-glorifies-outdated-views-on-healthy-sexuality/
Numerous media outlets are reporting that Adam Sandler’s new movie “That’s My Boy” makes light of statutory rape in its depiction of a thirteen-year old boy’s sexual relationship with his teacher at school. That relationship results in the teacher’s pregnancy, a jail sentence, and Sandler’s character being forced to raise the child himself. When the child turns eighteen, he leaves home and does not interact with his father again until the eve of his wedding, when the Sandler character shows up at his home in need of money.
Some will argue in defense of this movie by stating that the story ultimately focuses on the characters’ reconciliation and that since the movie is a comedy, advocates such as organizations like Prevent Child Abuse America, Darkness to Light and Stop It Now! are taking the story line too seriously. We would suggest that these arguments are specious at best. They do not excuse the movie’s outdated views on child sexuality, and the sexuality of boys specifically, much less the long term impact of sexual abuse on children. Nor do these arguments ameliorate the fact that the corporate culture of Columbia Pictures and Happy Madison Productions is one that embraces child rape as a means for making a profit.
“It goes without saying,” stated Jim Hmurovich, President & CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America, “that Adam Sandler and Columbia Pictures would never have made a similar movie about a thirteen-year old girl and a teacher of hers, so how is it that in 2012 they still find it acceptable to make such a movie about a character who is a boy? This is a movie about rape, plain and simple, and while we could have an endless dialogue about how is this is a comedy, or a story that highlights the resilience of children, I call upon the viewing public to express their strong disapproval. Along with my colleagues from Darkness to Light and Stop It Now! we have sent the producers of the film an offer to discuss how misguided this attempt at humor is, and what message can be salvaged from this screenplay. All of us regardless of what we do in our lives have a responsibility to the children and families in this country. I suggest we figure out together how they can fulfill that responsibility in a way that supports the healthy development of all children.”
another good article on this issue can be found here: http://goodmenproject.com/good-feed-blog/adam-sandler-and-rape-culture/
That's My Boy
informtion taken from http://annyjacoby.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/new-adam-sandler-movie-thats-my-boy-glorifies-outdated-views-on-healthy-sexuality/
Numerous media outlets are reporting that Adam Sandler’s new movie “That’s My Boy” makes light of statutory rape in its depiction of a thirteen-year old boy’s sexual relationship with his teacher at school. That relationship results in the teacher’s pregnancy, a jail sentence, and Sandler’s character being forced to raise the child himself. When the child turns eighteen, he leaves home and does not interact with his father again until the eve of his wedding, when the Sandler character shows up at his home in need of money.
Some will argue in defense of this movie by stating that the story ultimately focuses on the characters’ reconciliation and that since the movie is a comedy, advocates such as organizations like Prevent Child Abuse America, Darkness to Light and Stop It Now! are taking the story line too seriously. We would suggest that these arguments are specious at best. They do not excuse the movie’s outdated views on child sexuality, and the sexuality of boys specifically, much less the long term impact of sexual abuse on children. Nor do these arguments ameliorate the fact that the corporate culture of Columbia Pictures and Happy Madison Productions is one that embraces child rape as a means for making a profit.
“It goes without saying,” stated Jim Hmurovich, President & CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America, “that Adam Sandler and Columbia Pictures would never have made a similar movie about a thirteen-year old girl and a teacher of hers, so how is it that in 2012 they still find it acceptable to make such a movie about a character who is a boy? This is a movie about rape, plain and simple, and while we could have an endless dialogue about how is this is a comedy, or a story that highlights the resilience of children, I call upon the viewing public to express their strong disapproval. Along with my colleagues from Darkness to Light and Stop It Now! we have sent the producers of the film an offer to discuss how misguided this attempt at humor is, and what message can be salvaged from this screenplay. All of us regardless of what we do in our lives have a responsibility to the children and families in this country. I suggest we figure out together how they can fulfill that responsibility in a way that supports the healthy development of all children.”
another good article on this issue can be found here: http://goodmenproject.com/good-feed-blog/adam-sandler-and-rape-culture/
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photo from http://www.survivorsmanchester.org.uk
Male Rape and Sexual Assault
Within our society, men and boys can suffer appalling sexual assaults and humiliations, but rarely does a victim cry out for help. Such is his feeling of shame, he will often be as desperate to keep it a secret as his attacker is. Confusion, depression and a sense of inescapable isolation are common reactions. They can wreck a man's life. The effects of sexual abuse on men are in many ways similar to those on women, but the response of society is markedly different. Men are seen as strong protectors, capable of defending themselves and those that they care about. When rape occurs feelings of shame, guilt, bewilderment and disbelief often lead to a change of self-esteem. Frequently men feel unable to express their anger and rage at what has happened to them and turn it in on themselves. In a twist that doesn't occur in female rape, sometimes the perpetuator of male rape will arouse his victim sexually, leading him to ejaculation. This is a control move which leaves the victim totally confused as to his role in the rape - did he in fact contribute, by becoming aroused? It is important to bear in mind that co-operation does not mean consent. Sometimes co-operation with a rapist or abuser is essential to survive the situation. Many men unfortunately find it easier to blame themselves than accept that they were over-powered and raped, in spite of possibly being tricked or manipulated into trusting, or sometimes even feeling an attachment for, their attacker.
It is only by bringing these issues out into the open and discussing them, that we can hope to change society's attitudes so that male rape is seen as the same violent crime as female rape. Rape and Sexual Assault are not about sex or a sexual relationship. They are serious crimes about power, control, humiliation and domination.
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Being both mentally and physically strong is something that society seems to expect of males from a very early age. Some young men will feel that they should be able to physically protect themselves and, when they cannot, they find this hard to accept. Many boys, like all children, find it hard to ask for help when abuse is happening. As they grow up they find it even harder to ask for help. Many boys do not report acts of sexual violence because they see this as a sign of weakness. By accepting that the abuse was not your fault it can only help to shift the feelings of guilt and shame, putting them where they belong, on the perpetrator.
information taken from http://www.male-rape.org.uk/info.htm
some other useful websites for male victims of rape and abuse are:
http://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/malerape2.php
http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/Help%20for%20victims/Different%20types%20of%20crime/Rape%20sexual%20assault%20men
http://www.mankindcounselling.org.uk/
http://www.voicesandfaces.org/survivor_gabe.asp
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