Simulated Trauma in the Classroom
Before heading into a simulated traumatic event, students should be armed with traditional classroom knowledge about how to deal with traumatic events. The following classroom study questions can help prepare journalism students for a trauma training exercise:
Read Chapter 1 of “Covering Violence” (Simpson & Coté, 2006) and answer the following questions:
1.) If you are at the scene of a crime, accident or natural disaster, what are overt signs that an individual may be having an immediate psychological reaction to a traumatic event? In other words, as a journalist, what "symptoms" should you look for?
2.) Assume that you have been assigned to cover a traumatic event like a violent crime, fatal auto accident or natural disaster. In a couple of sentences each, answer the following questions:
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How should you decide whether to interview a person experiencing one of the situations described above? Briefly explain.
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If you do interview an individual who has experienced a traumatic reaction, how should you begin this process? How should you start the interview?
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If the person breaks down and starts to cry as you interview him or her, how exactly should you respond? What should you do?
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If the person asks if you know the condition of a loved one, and if you know the loved one has been seriously hurt or injured, how should you respond?
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