Trigger Warning Research Paper

Words: 650
Pages: 3

The controversy of the effect of trigger warnings on students has become a debatable topic for universities. What effect does trigger warning have on the students? How beneficial is it for students? As University of Chicago’s “welcome" letter clearly stated its way of approaching “freedom of inquiry and expression”, they also mentioned that they do not support trigger warnings due to the fact that they coddle students. However, what harm does trigger warning cause to students and the environment of the school? Although it may seem to overprotect students, safe spaces and trigger warnings are good supports for them when being first exposed to a sensitive topic. Trigger warnings are beneficial to students because they provide a mental support before addressing sensitive topics. As professors give students a heads up, students can mentally prepare themselves for discussion which allows them to act rationally. Kate Manne, in the op-ed “Why I Use Trigger Warnings”, stated, “The idea was to flag content that depicted or …show more content…
Lukainoff and Haidt in “The Coddling of the American Mind” believe that instead of “trying to protect students from words and ideas that they will inevitably encounter, colleges should do all they can to equip students to thrive in a world full of words and ideas that they cannot control.” Although universities, who provide trigger warnings, appear to be overprotecting students, they actually help students slowly adjust and cope with real concerns. They do not prevent students from being exposed to problems but allowing them to open up to issues that traumatize them. Rather than avoiding the topic, students will be exposed to the issues and listen to different sides of the argument, which gives them insights to other student’s reasoning. By stating opinions in a mannerly way, students can provide supporting arguments, which would, in fact, prepare them for real life