Courage in the Face of Betrayal
Acknowledging the impacts of vicarious trauma and institutional betrayal
Experiencing and directly witnessing violence causes trauma, and so does bearing witness to violence. As a nation, we are repeatedly bearing witness to horrifying, unceasing forms of preventable violence and death: mass shootings, hate crimes, a pandemic, police brutality, sexual violence, dehumanizing policy, and the list goes on. In many cases, the victims of this violence are among the most vulnerable and oppressed in society, including young children. For those of us empathetically observing, we experience vicarious trauma as the result, which harms our health via this indirect exposure to traumatic events.
On top of the vicarious trauma is another form of trauma, one that we directly experience. For those of us who recognize this violence as preventable, and who expect our government and other systems to take action to prevent violence, we are directly traumatized by the neglect of the institutions we depend on, specifically our systems of government that are failing to act. This form of trauma is called institutional betrayal, a research concept pioneered by Dr. Jennifer Freyd, which originates from betrayal trauma theory.
Betrayal trauma theory explains how harm committed by those we trust and/or depend on causes more trauma than harm committed by those to whom we have no connection. Most of the research on betrayal trauma theory looks at relationships between individuals, but institutional betrayal applies this theory to the relationships between individuals and institutions.
We as a people depend on our government and elected officials to protect our rights, acknowledge problems facing our communities and society, and take action to address these problems. The government has the power to acknowledge problems and to fund research and solutions to social problems. When it fails to act to protect its people, especially those who are most vulnerable, it is a betrayal to all of us. And this betrayal causes a direct form of trauma that affects our health, worldview, and behavior.
If you are at a loss for how to reconcile governmental inaction in the face of such preventable horrors, you are not alone. Feelings of devastation, hopelessness, powerlessness, and intense anger are normal responses to repeatedly bearing witness to preventable violence and to experiencing institutional betrayal. Numbness is also a normal response when we cannot continue to bear the pain.
Prentis Hemphill, embodiment practitioner and writer, shared the following words in response to the mass school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas: “Every inch of progress, every ounce of love, every truly meaningful action from here on out will happen through courage not comfort.”
For those of us struggling with the impacts of vicarious trauma and institutional betrayal, let us take a moment to honor our and others’ courage. It is courageous for people to face what has happened and to grieve. It is courageous to allow oneself to feel, write, and talk about tragedies and the tough emotions they evoke. It is courageous to recognize that there are many questions and few answers. It is courageous to acknowledge our hope or hopelessness. It is courageous to take time to process all that we have borne witness to, and to rest.
This focus on courage aligns with what Dr. Freyd has proposed as an antidote to institutional betrayal: institutional courage. Institutional courage involves institutional accountability, transparency, and responsiveness, and engaging in moral action despite short-term unpleasantness or risk. At any point in our history, our nation’s institutions have had a choice between betrayal and courage. Too often, these institutions have chosen betrayal.
Also throughout our history, many people and movements have demonstrated tremendous courage in challenging systemic injustices. Let us continue to demand and expect the same level of courage from the institutions and leaders who hold power over us.
