Psychological Research Suggests ‘Trigger Warnings’ May Heighten Stress and Anxiety
A Harvard Law School professor is cautioning that the use of “trigger warnings” may not only fail to prevent distress but could also trigger the very negative reactions they aim to avoid. Professor Jeannie Suk Gersen, writing for The New Yorker, references new psychological research that suggests “trigger warnings” could have an opposite effect on some individuals.
Gersen highlights a “Suggested Language List” developed by Brandeis University’s Prevention, Advocacy, and Resource Center, which advocates removing certain phrases from daily conversation to avoid triggering victims of violence. The list includes “trigger warning” alongside other phrases like “killing it” and “take a stab at,” citing that the term “warning” may imply impending danger, thus intensifying stress and anxiety for individuals with past trauma.
The research suggests that while the intention behind trigger warnings is to provide a heads-up, it cannot guarantee protection from emotional distress, as triggers vary widely among individuals. This raises questions about the effectiveness and potential drawbacks of such language in sensitive environments.
