Presentations authored or co-authored by members of the Freyd Dynamics Lab at the2011 Annual Meetings of the
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Lab Reunion on Baltimore Waterfront on 3 November 2011 (Left to right: Christina Martin, Carly Smith, Jennifer Freyd, Annmarie Hulette, Lisa Cromer, Carolyn Allard, Kathy Becker-Blease, Anne DePrince, and Melissa Platt)
ISSTS 2011 |
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Platt, M. (November, 2011). Symposium Associate Chair with C. Allard (chair), “Military Sexual Trauma: Complex Outcomes and Prevention of Multiple Layers of Betrayal,” at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, Maryland, 3-5 November 2011.Abstract: Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is associated with greater posttraumatic difficulties compared to other potentially traumatic experiences including combat experiences, and adult and civilian sexual abuse. MST involves the unique stressors associated with a warzone environment and those associated with interpersonal betrayal. Like combat trauma, MST often strips victims of their sense of safety and competence. However, unlike the MST victim, the victim of combat trauma may rely on the support of unit members and a sense of shared experience in order to cope. MST is frequently accompanied by expectations of silence and negative response to dissclosure. Empirical work presented in this symposium demonstrates that MST is not only linked with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also with more complex posttraumatic reactions, including difficulties with interpersonal relationships, emotion regulation, dissociation, somatization, self-perception, pain-related physical health problems, and risky sexual behavior. Treatment implications of these findings are discussed. Despite the considerable multi-faceted costs of MST, prevention research is sparse. The final presentation in this symposium introduces a framework, based on theory and research in evolutionary principles, group and war psychology and MST case studies, for understanding some forms of sexual assault in the military and informing cultural-level prevention efforts. |
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Freyd, J.J. (November, 2011). Symposium Chair, “From Research to Clinical Innovations and Applications: Implications from Betrayal Trauma Theory,” at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, Maryland, 3-5 November 2011.Abstract: Mainstream diagnosis and treatment of trauma has emphasized psychological responses to the fear-inducing aspects of traumas (such as gruesome accidents, war, and violent rape). Yet research suggests that betrayal is just as important in predicting response to atrocities. Betrayal traumas (such as emotional or sexual abuse by a parent, marital rape, or government mistreatment of citizens) are events and patterns of events that involve profound social betrayal. Betrayal trauma theory is an approach to conceptualizing trauma that points to the importance of social relationships in understanding post traumatic outcomes, including reduced recall. Betrayal trauma theory emphasizes the importance of human relationships in both the harm of trauma and the potential for healing. Building on a related symposium (From Shame and Posttraumatic Distress to Physiology: New Insights from Betrayal Trauma Theory Research, Part 1), in the current symposium presenters will explore implications of betrayal trauma theory on methodology, assessment, crime reporting, and treatment. Presenters will discuss the importance of identifying hidden trauma in developmental traumatology research, the power of considering betrayal in understanding trauma symptomatology, the role of betrayal in domestic violence reporting rates, and the implications of betrayal trauma theory on clinical intervention. |
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Martin, C.G., Cromer, DePrince, & Freyd, J.J. (November, 2011). Is all trauma equal? The role of betrayal in understanding trauma symptomatology. In Symposium: “From Research to Clinical Innovations and Applications: Implications from Betrayal Trauma Theory,” at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, Maryland, 3-5 November 2011.Abstract: Recent trends in trauma research have led to a focus on 1) cumulative trauma—the number of unique types of traumas experienced—and 2) trauma appraisals—survivor’s cognitive evaluations of the traumas experienced—in predicting trauma-related symptomatology. Both lines of research suggest that it is not the type of trauma experienced, but 1) the number of trauma types experienced or 2) the way in which people think about their experiences that matter. However, betrayal trauma theory proposes that trauma that is perpetrated by a trusted or depended upon other is more psychologically damaging than trauma perpetrated by a nonclose other, or noninterpersonal traumas. The current study examined cumulative trauma exposure as a function of the level of betrayal (low, moderate, and high betrayal traumas), trauma appraisals, and trauma symptoms. Participants were 273 college students (69% female; 80% Caucasian; M = 20.36 years, SD = 3.99 years) who reported experiencing at least one traumatic event. Results indicate that more high betrayal traumas were associated with more depression, dissociation, and PTSD symptoms than were moderate or low betrayal traumas. Trauma appraisals were independently associated with symptoms. The differential impact of trauma by betrayal will be discussed. |
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Hulette, A.C., Kaehler, L.A. & Freyd, J.J. (November, 2011). Intergenerational Effects of Betrayal Trauma in a Mother-Child Sample. Poster presented at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, Maryland, 3-5 November 2011.Full Poster:
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The purpose of this study was to investigate intergenerational relationships between trauma and dissociation in a sample of 67 mother-child dyads. Short and long term consequences of betrayal trauma (i.e., trauma perpetrated by someone with whom the victim is very close) on dissociation were examined using group comparison and regression strategies. Experiences of high betrayal trauma were found to be related to higher levels of dissociation in both children and mothers. Furthermore, mothers who experienced high betrayal trauma in childhood and were subsequently interpersonally revictimized in adulthood were shown to have higher levels of dissociation than non-revictimized mothers. Maternal revictimization status was associated with child interpersonal trauma history. These results suggest that dissociation from a history of childhood betrayal trauma may involve a persistent unawareness of future threats to both self and children. |
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Martin, C.G. & Huss, J.M. Freyd, J.J. (November, 2011). Interpersonal Betrayal: The Role of Relational Closeness in How Victims Appraise Betrayal. Poster presented at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, Maryland, 3-5 November 2011.Full Poster:
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The emotional and cognitive appraisal “I’ve been betrayed” is a complex response to violations of trust. Adaptive reactions typically involve strategies that decrease the likelihood of future betrayals. However, betrayal trauma theory posits that betrayals perpetrated by individuals on whom the victim depends for basic needs (i.e., material and emotional support) are more likely to lead to betrayal blindness—an unawareness of the betrayal—in order to maintain the relationship. In the current study we examined how current relational closeness to the perpetrator was associated with betrayal blindness through attribution style and betrayal appraisals. Participants were 267 college students who primarily identified as female (72%; 5% did not identify a gender). Participants were asked to describe an experience of betrayal, including who betrayed them, and their thoughts at the time of the betrayal and currently. We hypothesize that victims in a current relationship with the perpetrator will be more likely to make attributions of self-blame and appraisals of acceptance rather than negative appraisals (i.e., threat, violation of rights, or loss), or those indicative of positive growth. Preliminary results will be presented. Betrayal blindness and the risk for revictimization will be discussed. |
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Smith, C.P. & Freyd, J.J. (November, 2011a). Nowhere to Turn: Institutional Betrayal Exacerbates Traumatic Aftermath of Sexual Assault. Poster presented at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, Maryland, 3-5 November 2011.Full Poster:
Abstract: Research has documented the profound negative impact of betrayal within experiences of interpersonal trauma such as sexual assault (Betrayal Trauma Theory; Freyd, 1994; 1996; 2009, Freyd, DePrince & Gleaves, 2007). In the current study we examined whether involvement of institutions (e.g., universities) in events surrounding experiences of sexual assault may similarly exacerbate trauma symptomology. We posit that the harm of sexual assault may be made much worse by institutional failure to prevent sexual assault or respond supportively when it occurs -- what we call “institutional betrayal”. We collected self-reports of unwanted sexual experiences, trauma symptoms, and experiences of institutional betrayal in a sample of female college students (N=345). Institutional betrayal was assessed by asking whether an important institution played a role in any unwanted sexual experiences (e.g., creating an environment where these experience seemed more likely, making it difficult to report these experiences, etc.). Nearly half (47%) of the women reported at least one unwanted sexual experience and institutional betrayal experiences moderated the relationship between unwanted sexual experiences and later trauma symptoms. Specifically, women who had reported experiencing institutional betrayal surrounding their unwanted sexual experience reported increased levels of anxiety, sexual trauma-specific symptoms, dissociation and problematic sexual functioning. |
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Platt, M. (November, 2011). Presenting Participant in Workshop (Kahn, L., Chair), “The Harm and Healing of Betrayal Trauma: A Researcher/Clinician Dialog,” at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, Maryland, 3-5 November 2011.and Freyd, J.J. (November, 2011). Presenting Participant in Workshop (Kahn, L., Chair), “The Harm and Healing of Betrayal Trauma: A Researcher/Clinician Dialog,” at the 27th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, Maryland, 3-5 November 2011.Handouts:
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In a lively researcher/clinician dialogue, we will address the key concepts of Betrayal Trauma theory, draw from the corresponding body of research, and highlight the implications for treatment and healing. |
ISSTD 2011 |
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Medrano, L., Martin, C.G. & Freyd, J.J. (November 2011). Oregon State Hospital: A Case Study of Institutional Betrayal. Poster presented at the 28th annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, Montreal, Canada, 5-7 November 2011.Full Poster:
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Betrayal Trauma Theory (BTT) posits that individuals who are maltreated by a caregiver or a close other on whom they depend to meet their physical or emotional needs may become blind or unaware of the trauma in order to preserve the attachment relationship (Freyd, 1996). While BTT typically focuses on interpersonal traumas, it can be extended to institutions. In this case study, we explore institutional betrayal trauma among forensic inpatients at the Oregon State Hospital (OSH) by examining its history, society's perceptions of mental illness, and the treatment of patients within OSH during the last decade. The State has assumed care of every individual living within OSH, and although there are many caring and well-intentioned individuals who work at the hospital, it often fails in providing a safe and therapeutic environment for recovery. Exposure to potentially traumatic experiences, such as violence, disregard for patient civil rights, unhealthy living environments, and improper psychological treatment within the psychiatric hospital, may disrupt the process of healing and the ultimate goal of patient recovery. This case study will analyze where and how the system has failed, potentially retraumatizing some of its most vulnerable inhabitants, to increase awareness of institutional betrayal among a "voiceless" population. |
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Platt, M. (November, 2011). Plenary Panel Associate Chair with C. Allard (chair), “Military Sexual Trauma: Current Knowledge and Future Directions” at the 28th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, Montréal, Quebec, Canada, 5-7 November, 2011.
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Smith, C.P. & Freyd, J.J. (November 2011b). Institutional Betrayal: Violations of members' trust surrounding incidents of sexual assault. Poster presented at the 28th annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, Montreal, Canada, 5-7 November 2011.Full Poster:
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