The increase of “trigger warnings” is changing college culture. For those who are not familiar, trigger warnings work to caution individuals of content in the classroom that could induce trauma. They were originally introduced to protect people suffering from PTSD, but in recent years, they have been more frequently used as an excuse for those who simply wish to avoid uncomfortable or disagreeable subjects. Those who administer and support trigger warnings no doubt have good intentions, as on paper, trigger warnings seem only to be beneficial. However, as their presence has grown, they seem to be affecting college students in unfavorable ways.
Multiple studies have suggested that trigger warnings are not really useful. Rather, they have been found to frequently do students a disservice, as they do not prepare them for the harsh indifference of reality. Additionally, trigger warnings have even been proven to foster unhealthy mental habits.
Image Credit: Annie Spratt
It seems as though trigger warnings are valuable because they allow universities to protect students who have been traumatized, yet ironically enough, they actually do the opposite. Rather than issuing trigger warnings, universities should assist students by facilitating access to effective and proven treatment for PTSD and other mental health problems. If someone is having a severe emotional reaction to classroom material, then they should prioritize their mental health by seeking out evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral therapy that will help them overcome their trauma. Their perspective university should also play a role in providing support for that student by clearly supplying helpful and welcoming resources so that they don’t feel nervous to seek out the help they may need.
According to the US National Library of Medicine, the most effective method for coping with trauma that involves anxiety or PTSD is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Therefore, it is clear that the best way to overcome distress is not by avoiding it, but by confronting it slowly in conjunction with professional medical help. Furthermore, a trigger warning can do little to help an emotionally traumatized person both in the classroom and, eventually, in the real world.
Image Credit: Markus Spiske
Students may believe they are protecting themselves by avoiding disturbing material, but in reality, they are merely suppressing psychological problems that should be addressed. Avoiding a triggering subject is unproductive and ineffective both for one’s growth and wellbeing, as difficult it is to confront something nerve-racking.
There definitely should be empathy involved when it comes to certain subjects. However, there’s a point when putting students in a bubble inhibits their learning and growth as individuals. Although everyone has their personal reasons for attending college, university education should inevitably provoke growth in its students and prepare them for their lives in the “real world.”
Despite the empathetic and beneficial facade of trigger warnings, they actually work against growth and learning and cause more harm than good. Thus, we must ask ourselves: When do warnings become more dangerous than what they caution against?
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