John Amodeo Ph.D., MFT
Family and Trauma
Trauma
The Effects of Reinforcement on Safety
Experiences of torture and nudity have psychological and physiological effects.
Posted May 23, 2021
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Reviewed by Lybi Ma
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THE BASICS
What Is Trauma?
Find a therapist to heal from trauma
For over two decades, society has been fighting a losing battle against the “unknown forces” that supposedly threaten our sense of safety and our way of living. The futile effort of keeping the world “safe” has, lately, been framed as a hopeless effort by scientists and activists to attempt to devise some form of prevention against the phenomenon known as Trauma.
Trauma is well-documented both in the behavioral sciences and the philosophy departments of universities and colleges that specialize in training the next generation of Americans to face and cope with trauma. At the graduate level, trauma is treated by counselors as a whole or in part depending on the stage of the student and whether the trauma itself fits within a diagnosed clinical profile.
Couples often discover that trauma has its place in their lives (Wilson, 2015; Murnighan, 2019). When stress becomes hard to manage, effective treatment begins. Psychotherapy may be administered by a therapist but also may be undertaken by a psychiatrist or other type of therapist. Not all therapists will be able to work with trauma dependent patients.
Trauma psychotherapy may be a useful place to start for the first time, especially for those who are experiencing a traumatic event for the first time. Trauma-focused therapy tends to be short and focused.
In addition, therapy for trauma dependent patients tends to address defenses. These defenses include limiting contact with the outside world, hiding, and inhibiting. Most therapists will focus on these defenses first and foremost. They will build them into the lives of those with PTSD-like symptoms or who have battled with them previously.
Individuals who are struggling with trauma might include themselves in therapy to gain a better understanding of their weapons and their triggers. They could also apply mind-wandering to trauma. This happens when someone is trying to remember or even when they are trying to focus on something else. Encouraging those with trauma to open their minds and map the world around them helps give them a sense of inner strength, provides a feeling of coherence, and directs them towards self-help strategies.
Outside of therapy, therapists can engage in play, such as rough and tumble gaming, where they take a different approach to video games. Play also helps with better coping and with self-reflection. Just because a child or a teen plays video games doesn't mean that they are incapable of managing those games.
Mental health and Social Distancing
Everyone has a different story with regards to mental health. Peer support, social distancing, and staying connected are all tactics that can assist in mitigating stress and improving well-being. However, everyone does not have to actively worry about matters such as a cut-throat divorce, a relationship ending, or getting fired from a job for not cooperating with your supervisor.
These strategies may help to initially support those with the problem, and over time, they can grow beyond a personal interest in the game and its mechanics. Before starting a sequel to a game, it is beneficial to understand what sort of emotion the game generates in the player and how it interacts with the player’s Play Style.
A cut-throat divorce
In a cut-throat divorce, the couple has always blamed one another for their problems, often coming from a competitiveness that can in some instances be interpreted as a threat. Here are some common ways that video games illustrate this dynamic.
The Assassin stories are very personal. There is a distinct snail-like form connecting the cinematic protagonist and an alternate version of him pursued by the main character. The player assumes the role of the innocent party and observes how the other character, marked as the antagonist, interacts with them. The constant interchange of information between the two players, including in this case, constantly reminds the player of how their dynamic is affected by the player.
A similar tornado is depicted on the screen as follows. In this instance, the player assumes three characters' roles simultaneously, alternately playing the active role of a video game character. By assuming their "skin," the player makes several essential choices that involve ethical and moral issues.