Trigger Warnings: Friend, Foe, or Literature’s Version of Steve?

Trigger warnings; the illusive and controversial topic that floats around bookish spaces. Like that hot person that stands at the bar catching everyone’s eye, but after getting to know them, you realize they’re actually quite nice and enjoys embroidery classes on the weekend. For some, trigger warnings are merely just a shopping list for hot new themes that will have you pushing your daunting limits. For others, it’s some extra pages formatted in the book. However, there is a purpose for the section of warnings and precursors found in the front of literary works. 

When considering trigger warnings, the concept is overall a newer practice considerably. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the conversation of warning consumers of the appearance of traumatic material ranging from sexual assault, harassment, abuse, violence, or death and its varying degrees of conversation. In the book, Trigger Warnings: History, Theory, Context, Professor Sarah Colbert discussed the roots of trigger warnings stems from professional examination of PTSD in soldiers, and how certain stimuli activates the reliving of certain memories, a researched symptom of “war neurosis” (Colbert, 2017). Then, the conversation shifted as the feminist movement to demanding conscious language decisions and establishing efficient warnings when addressing sexual assault or abuse in media (Bennett Ph.D., 2023). While the roots of its origin differ per source, the core intent was the same—giving folks head’s up to the wild ride they’re about to partake on.

Now, I bet you’re wondering,

“Um, can you get to the point Nina? The history lesson is nice and all, but I came here to talk dark romance.” 

I’m getting there friend, I promise. Just let me lay the foundation down before I get to cooking. 

The presence of trigger warnings appear around us at all times, ranging from movie ratings, preludes within educational material, video game disclaimers, and content warnings prior to television episodes. The true benefits of trigger warnings is still something scientists are seeking to review. Critics believe they help people avoid their trauma or even stunt creative expression, while those in the middle believe there’s no true affect caused by triggers. In an article discussing the usage of triggers in a college setting, writer Jill Filipovic spoke of how trigger warnings, “aren’t so much helping people with PTSD as they are about a certain kind of performative feminism”, and “skews the students’ perceptions” (Filipovic, 2017). For the side seeking to understand the efficiency of them, associations such as the Motion Picture Association, find them useful in “protecting individuals whose unique experiences have left them emotionally vulnerable to specific material” (Bridgland et al., 2023). Overall, the working definition of trigger warnings focuses on how the statement, “intends to help individuals prepare for or avoid content likely to trigger memories or emotions relevant to past experiences” (Bridgland et al., 2023). In summary, the consensus idea is that trigger warnings serve as a safe guard for media consumers to make informed decisions on how they’ll proceed with the heavy materials presented. 

Now, the real question is if this “safeguard” is truly what society needs. Are they beneficial? Well, that’s something for you to decide for your own. 

When you think of triggers think of them as switches in the brain that activate the whole body. When you think of your first kiss, you can feel the sensation of the others lips or tongue—happily or not.  Or when you smell something really good and a warm sensation grows in your chest. Your brain holds onto the memory of the stimulus and tells the body to act accordingly. If it’s positive, then you’re honky dory, but if it’s bad…then everyone is getting depresso espresso. So, trigger warnings afford the reader the chance to decide if the following content would be a safe choice for them at the time. Sometimes, people can read with no problem and other times it’s best to step away. 

Why consume dark romance or anything that could be triggering if it can affect you so deeply?

Great question! Simple answer is because we want to. We are all grown, and you’re not my dad.

Long answer is that while the reasons vary per person, reading dark romance can be a healing experience for those who are interested in the genre. 

In some form or the other, the exploration of certain topics within literature afford the reader a sense of control over their exposure to heavy content and allows them to reclaim a power over their autonomy. Trigger warnings have become a key feature in the dark romance genre due to the prevalence of exploration of heavy themes—hence the title dark romance—and in such, authors whose utilize them hope to establish informed consent with the readers. For some authors and readers, exploring the aspects of morally grey—bordering on black at times—characters finding their happily ever after despite the evils they survived, can afford them healing. Think of it in the context of the phrase, “if they can do it, I can too. I may not have wings to fly, but I can get an engineering degree to go build some mechanical ones could make Icarus bite his tongue out.” 

For others who don’t have experiences with first-hand trauma, dark romance can still be freeing and afford personal growth. The journey of healing is never exact or uniformed for every individual, but they can find solace in the reading about ostracized characters finding love and experiencing it as a cathartic moment. Each of us in some way or form have faced the underbelly of societal constraints, and when we are given the opportunity to find home somewhere we’ll truly be embraced. Through these characters facing society’s wildest tournaments and prevailing against all odds, truly lights a fire in the hearts of many. That type of hope is something I have a feeling we all can root for in the end. 

Now here’s where the opinion piece comes full circle. Trigger warnings serve as an act of informed consent between author and reader. While they’re not always failsafe plans that ensure every reader is prepared for would could appear within a material, because reading is subjective; what one individual can consume in media, could be the hard limit for another—even if the subject is something they’ve enjoyed in the past, (i.e. The difference in one author writing about CNC versus another author. Trust me, I’ve been in that boat). Additionally, it doesn’t absolve situations of problematic writing and scenes that readers bring to the attention of the community. Trigger warnings work as a safety gear of the reader’s experience. For those who find themselves unable to consume this media, then they’re afforded the opportunity to protect themselves and prioritize their mental health. For the demographics that read the warnings, and if they still proceed with readings; they’ve been afforded the chance to prepare themselves accordingly. 

Whether it’s a feature needed by you or it’s a wonderful shopping list for your dark soul to enjoy, trigger warnings serve a purpose. When it comes down to the media we consume, we insert ourselves into the worlds found on the pages we indulge ourselves in. With trigger warnings, the dark romance genre is afforded the chance in ensure safety for our community.

References:

Bennett, K., PhD. (2023, September 20). Are trigger warnings always healthy? “Proceed with caution,” new research says. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/modern-minds/202309/the-trouble-with-trigger-warnings-in-a-dangerous-world#:~:text=The%20Origin%20of%20Trigger%20Warnings,media%20posts%20and%20streaming%20services. 

Bridgland, V. M. E., Jones, P. J., & Bellet, B. W. (2023). A Meta-Analysis of the efficacy of trigger warnings, content warnings, and content notes. Clinical Psychological Science, 12(4), 751–771. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026231186625 

Colbert, S. (2017). A History of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trigger Warnings [Electronic]. In J. Knox (Ed.), Trigger Warnings: History, Theory, Context (pp. 3–21). Rowman & Littlefield. https://books.google.com/books?id=BUklDwAAQBAJ&printsec=copyright#v=onepage&q&f=false 

Filipovic, J. (2017, September 20). We’ve gone too far with “trigger warnings.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/05/trigger-warnings-can-be-counterproductive