The vicarious trauma of witnessing police brutality
| | | | Hi, friends, and happy hump day. As another viral video of police violence tears across our feeds, we wanted to weigh in on one specific aspect of the conversation: How does watching these videos affect our mental health? | | Below, we talk with clinical psychologist Alixis Rhodes, PsyD, about vicarious trauma, how these videos help shape our perception of the world, and how to decide when (and if) it's beneficial to watch a violent video. | | We'll also be talking about: | | | | • | your tips for safely navigating the internet | | | Stay sharp,
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Ginger Wojcik
February 8, 2023 • 6 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | Should you watch videos of police brutality? | The recent footage of five police officers brutally beating Tyre Nichols — an unarmed Black man who later died from his injuries — has brought up an old debate on the internet: Should you watch these violent videos when they come through your feed? To understand what may be at stake when we decide to click "play," we enlisted the help of clinical psychologist Alixis Rhodes, PsyD.
First off, it's important to note that the effects of witnessing police brutality may differ depending on your race. If you're Black, for example, these videos can be particularly distressing. "Because of the collective history of slavery, public lynchings, and brutality at the hands of authority figures, African Americans have a sense of linked fate with others of their race," says Rhodes. "This makes us particularly susceptible to vicarious trauma."
First identified in the 1980s, vicarious trauma is "the emotional residue of exposure to traumatic stories and experiences of others." Although not the same as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the symptoms can be similar. For example, a 2019 study found that undocumented Latinx teens who had been exposed to images from immigration detention centers had increased symptoms of depression and PTSD.
Another point to consider is how violent images can affect your perception of the world, regardless of your race. According to Rhodes, seeing too much violent content can make you believe the world is a scarier place than it really is. Conversely, it can have a desensitizing effect –– if you believe that violence is "just a way of life," you may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others.
If you don't know whether to watch a video, Rhodes suggests asking yourself what you hope to gain in doing so, especially if you're easily triggered by violence. If you think watching will motivate you to take action or help you take part in a larger conversation, you may ultimately decide it's worth it to click play.
tl;dr: The footage of Tyre Nichols being beaten by police — which ultimately led to his death — has renewed the conversation about how these types of videos can affect our mental health. We consulted clinical psychologist Alixis Rhodes, PsyD, to understand the effect violent imagery can have on our thoughts, emotions, and perception of the world. | | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | Look who's talking | "I have had so many emotions these past few days. I am sad to leave the many friends and colleagues who I have worked with at Google. I am adjusting to the beginnings of a new life, and treating the experience with tenderness and curiosity about what my next chapter might bring."
– Kristin Maczko, Google's former director of global mental health | | | | | | | Maczko was one of the nearly 12,000 employees Google laid off in January. Hundreds of thousands of workers — most of them affiliated with the tech world in some way — have had their positions eliminated in recent months as federal interest rates continue to rise. If you've joined the ranks of recently laid-off employees, know that you're not alone. Our friends at Psych Central put together this guide to help you get through this tough time. | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | The plot thickens on everybody's favorite love hormone | According to a new animal study, mammals may not need oxytocin to bond after all. The findings threaten to upend decades of research on the "love hormone," which has long been regarded as the chemical explanation for how we experience love.
Oxytocin has been a popular research subject over the last few decades, with studies linking the hormone to an array of relational behaviors (not all of which are lovey-dovey, mind you), including: | | This new study looked at the mating and parenting behaviors of prairie voles whose oxytocin receptors had been removed through gene editing. (For the non-zoologists out there, prairie voles are prime oxytocin research subjects because, unlike most mammals, they mate for life and co-parent their young.)
The researchers hypothesized that without oxytocin, the voles would leave their ride-or-die lives behind. Lo and behold, the oxytocin-less voles still pair bonded with their preferred mate, nursed, and weaned their pups.
There's still a lot we don't know about the role oxytocin plays in human behavior. But what we do know is that you can boost this intoxicating hormone — naturally! — in a number of ways. Check out our guide to learn more. | | | | | | |
| | | | | | After watching "The Shining" when I was 13, I stayed up all night reading a novel, terrified that without something to concentrate on, images from the movie would come flooding into my brain. My memory has always latched onto violent, gory, or otherwise disturbing imagery, often plaguing me for months or years to come. So, my personal internet policy is to avoid any content where people or animals might be in considerable pain or distress. | | For this week's poll, we're curious how you protect your inner world during your travels across the World Wide Web. | | We want to know: Where do you draw the line when watching internet content? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com. (Please note that we may share your name and response in an upcoming newsletter!) | | | | | | |
| | | | Last week, Mary A. wrote in to let us know how she keeps the zest alive in her life. Here's an excerpt from her beautiful response:
When I was 50, I met a man and besides falling in love, I had the great good fortune of his being a constant creative mentor. I began painting and found the zest I'd lost through the child-bearing years. Every mark of every painting fills me with overflowing joy and disbelief that I found this hidden facet buried within me. And that I'm good at it. 10 years later, more nights than not, I still announce that I can't wait to wake up in the morning so I can get back to painting.
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| | | | | | | Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon! | | |  | | |  | | This edition was powered by | | my newfound love for prairie voles. | | | | | | | View in browser
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