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Trigger Warning: Trigger Warnings Don't Work

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Title: Trigger Warning: Trigger Warnings Don't Work
Language: English
Authors: Robinder P. Bedi (ORCID 0000-0001-5353-7264), Anoosha Avni
Source: Psychology Teaching Review. 2025 31(2):111-116.
Availability: British Psychological Society, Division for Teachers & Researchers in Psychology. St Andrews House, 48 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1 7DR, UK. Tel: +44-1162-529551; Fax: +44-1162-271314; e-mail: directmail@bps.org.uk; Web site: https://www.bps.org.uk/publications/psychology-teaching-review
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 6
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Trauma, Mental Health, Emotional Response, Psychological Patterns, Educational Psychology, Educational Research, Ethics
DOI: 10.53841/bpsptr.2025.31.2.111
ISSN: 0965-948X
2396-9571
Abstract: A trigger warning (TW) is a statement designed to caution individuals about upcoming content that could evoke distressing emotions. The majority of students promote the use of TWs and believe them to be helpful and their use is becoming more commonplace amongst instructors (noting that instructors also sometimes avoid teaching or discussing content that students could request a TW for). This article briefly reviews the research evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of TWs and discusses ethical issues in their provision. There does not appear to be any reliable therapeutic benefit for TWs in terms of trauma-related or mental health outcomes. Based on the current state of the evidence, TWs should not be used as a mental health intervention and are not trauma-informed pedagogy. Their use appears to do more harm than good for the vast majority of individuals.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1488042
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Trigger Warning: Trigger Warnings Don't Work
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Robinder+P%2E+Bedi%22">Robinder P. Bedi</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5353-7264">0000-0001-5353-7264</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anoosha+Avni%22">Anoosha Avni</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Psychology+Teaching+Review%22"><i>Psychology Teaching Review</i></searchLink>. 2025 31(2):111-116.
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  Data: British Psychological Society, Division for Teachers & Researchers in Psychology. St Andrews House, 48 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1 7DR, UK. Tel: +44-1162-529551; Fax: +44-1162-271314; e-mail: directmail@bps.org.uk; Web site: https://www.bps.org.uk/publications/psychology-teaching-review
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  Data: 6
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trauma%22">Trauma</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotional+Response%22">Emotional Response</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+Patterns%22">Psychological Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Psychology%22">Educational Psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Research%22">Educational Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethics%22">Ethics</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.53841/bpsptr.2025.31.2.111
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: A trigger warning (TW) is a statement designed to caution individuals about upcoming content that could evoke distressing emotions. The majority of students promote the use of TWs and believe them to be helpful and their use is becoming more commonplace amongst instructors (noting that instructors also sometimes avoid teaching or discussing content that students could request a TW for). This article briefly reviews the research evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of TWs and discusses ethical issues in their provision. There does not appear to be any reliable therapeutic benefit for TWs in terms of trauma-related or mental health outcomes. Based on the current state of the evidence, TWs should not be used as a mental health intervention and are not trauma-informed pedagogy. Their use appears to do more harm than good for the vast majority of individuals.
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  Data: 2025
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