Excelsior College Child Resilience & Trauma Discussion

Part I: Based on your opinion, your experiences, and what you have learned so far in this course answer the following question.

Many people believe kids are resilient. In your own opinion, what factors make a child resilient? What factors place a child at risk?

Part II: Review the module notes, readings, and resources in Part I.

Now let’s apply the module notes and readings to the following questions:

1. Discuss the prevailing societal attitudes about rape and domestic violence and the role that media plays in how we, as a society, view people who live through these types of traumatic experiences. How do these views differ if the victim is male or female?
2. Interpersonal violence is now considered a public health issue. Discuss ways in which communities can combat this form of violence.
3. As we have learned from our readings, certain marginalized populations are more at risk of developing generational trauma. Describe factors that perpetuate ongoing trauma over generations.
4. Based on the film “How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime,” describe the long-term effects of childhood trauma on the individual, as well as the family.
5. Identify one new piece of information you learned this week.
   
   
6. Reading
   • Textbook Readings
     • Ch 11: Child and Adolescent Exposure to Trauma (Links to an external site.)
     • Ch 12: Sexual Abuse and Violence (Links to an external site.)
     • Ch 17: Toxic Stress and Trauma Associated with Poverty (Links to an external site.)
   • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2019). Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect. (Links to an external site.) Child Welfare Gateway Children’s Bureau.
   • Gravelin, C., Biernat, M. & Bucher, C. (2019). Blaming the Victim of Acquaintance Rape: Individual, Situational, and Sociocultural Factors. (Links to an external site.) Frontiers of Psychology.
   • RAINN. (n.d.) Victims of Sexual Violence. Statistics. (Links to an external site.)
   • RAINN. (n.d.) Sexual Assault of Men and Boys. (Links to an external site.)

   Media

   • Gillespie, C. (2020). What is Generational Trauma? Here’s How Experts Explain it. (Links to an external site.) Health.
   • The Freeze Response and Sexual Assault (Links to an external site.) – How to turn it off. PTSD and Trauma Recovery #2 [12:59 min].
   • TedTalks: Nadine Burke Harris – How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime. (Links to an external site.) Films on Demand, Films Media Group, 2015.