I recently copyedited a non-fiction book with a trigger warning. It was the first time I’d read – or edited – a book that had one. (I know, I’ve been living under a rock!) But it got me thinking about trigger warnings in general and whether they help or hinder.
In the past, I’ve worked on books that contained ‘strong’ themes. For example, one history book contained a description of a grisly hanging. Was this content uncomfortable? Yes. Would I have skipped over it if I was reading it for leisure? Probably. But does it warrant a trigger warning?
It’s a tough question, and from what I’ve gleaned, not everyone agrees on what it should be called, where it should appear or whether it should be used at all. But before we get stuck in, let’s get clear on what a trigger warning is.
What is a trigger warning?
A trigger warning – also known as a content warning – is a statement that warns readers about themes that may disturb or trigger a traumatic response. While the concept was popularised in feminist blogs and online forums in the early 2000s (to flag references to sexual violence), the term now refers to a broader range of topics. These may include:
abortion
animal cruelty
child abuse
death or dying
eating disorders
extreme violence
homophobia or transphobia
incest
mental illness
military combat
physical abuse
racism
sexism
sexual abuse or assault
suicide or suicide ideation
torture
In many cases, the cover design, blurb and genre convey this information, so a content warning is usually unnecessary. (In the case of that hanging, it was in a book on capital punishment, so I knew what I was in for!) But in other cases, where the boundaries are less clear, a warning gives you the option to continue reading or opt out.
Pros and cons of a trigger warning
Understandably, opinions are divided when it comes to trigger warnings, but here are some common arguments for and against:
Pros
It gives you the right to choose what you read.
The book won't accidentally trigger traumatic episodes or emotions.
It helps you emotionally prepare for the content.
It helps you avoid topics that don’t align with your ethics, values or religion.
Cons
It can lead to avoidance, delaying the healing process.
The warning itself can be triggering.
It can lead to censorship.
It can give away key plot points or themes.
It suggests that trauma is central to your identity.
It shelters you from the harsher realities of life.
The science of trigger warnings
As you can see, both sides make valid points, but what does the science tell us? Well, this is where it gets interesting. While trigger warnings are believed to help readers avoid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or at least prepare themselves to manage their reactions, recent research from Flinders University, Australia, shows this isn’t the case.
In fact, researchers found that trigger warnings had ‘no effect on affective responses to negative material or educational outcomes’. However, they did find that warnings had an ‘anticipatory’ effect. In other words, they increased anxiety before engaging with the text.
They also identified another factor: the forbidden fruit hypothesis. If you’re told that something is restricted, you're going to be drawn to it. For example, a group of trauma survivors were presented with articles about sexual assault – and they picked the ones with trigger warnings.
This raises interesting questions about the role of self-triggering or exposure. Does it build resilience or put you at risk of a relapse? According to psychologist Richard McNally, it's the former. He believes that exposure therapy is the most effective way of overcoming PTSD.
What’s more, he argues that making trauma central to your identity can delay recovery. In one study, he found that ‘among 102 women who reported histories of childhood sexual abuse, the more central their abuse was to their identity – as measured by the CES [Centrality of Event Scale] – the worse the PTSD symptoms’.
So, despite theoretical, ethical or legal reasons for including trigger warnings in books or online content, the science doesn’t support the evidence – at least not yet. Perhaps more studies are needed – and over a longer period of time – to find if there’s a cumulative effect of being exposed to triggering content, or whether there’s a tipping point for vulnerable individuals.
Final thoughts: Should you use a trigger warning or not?
There are no easy answers to this question, despite the evidence presented above. In the end, it boils down to personal preference and how deeply the author or publisher believes in informed consent. (In the book I mentioned above, we placed warnings at the start of four chapters that contained triggering content.)
If your book covers difficult topics and you want to include a warning, there are a few options: you can include it at the start of the relevant chapter, on the back cover or on your website, depending on the trigger/s are and how prominent you want the note to be.
If you’re worried the note might act as a spoiler or deter potential readers (but you still want to minimise harm), make sure the blurb and design convey those themes clearly. Alternatively, add your book to a database like Book Trigger Warnings. What’s your take on trigger warnings? Do you find them helpful?
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