The Neurotic Treadmill: Decreasing Adversity, Increasing Vulnerability?

Abstract

In the last few decades, violence has markedly decreased within the United States. This decrease applies to almost all distressing and dangerous life events including interpersonal violence, rape, and sexual assault. Despite this, rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have not decreased. In addition, rates of PTSD following trauma are higher in developed countries such as Canada compared to less developed countries such as South Africa. What might explain this counterintuitive pattern? One possibility is that there exists a societal treadmill effect for trauma. Specifically, as the frequency of adverse events decreases, definitions and negative expectations regarding trauma may expand and increase, generating greater vulnerability to trauma. This model is tested in a series of experiments. In Paper 1, I examine whether manipulating the frequency or displayed range of serious traumas in an experiment will result in expanded or contracted definitions of trauma. In Paper 2, I examine whether definitions of trauma affect individuals' anxiety and intrusive memories after watching a distressing film. In Paper 3, I turn to examine whether providing trigger warnings to previously traumatized individuals is iatrogenic, adversely impacting vulnerability by increasing expectations of harm.