Season 5 Episode 5: A Trauma History is Not An Excuse for Acting Abusively

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About this episode

In this episode of Partnered with A Survivor, David & Ruth have an intimate discussion about how we can be emotionally & behaviorally responsible even when we have been trained into fear & reactivity through violence & abuse. 

David and Ruth discuss:

• How we need to drop binary definitions in order to prevent abusers from using their history of trauma as an excuse for current behaviors of coercive control & violence. 

• The importance of unlearning reactive behaviors that we came by 'honestly' through trauma.

• The importance of considering context, patterns of behavior and impacts on functioning  as part of the conversations about survivors' reactivity and use of violence.

• The value of self-reflection on the impact of our behaviors when we are triggered back into a state of fear or defensiveness.

If you like this episode, you may be interested in:

Season 5 Episode 2: Women’s Use Of Force In Intimate Relationships: An Interview With Lisa Young Larance

Season 3 Episode 7: Understanding And Validating Survivors’ Acts Of Resistance

Season 2 Episode 11: “We Need A Revolution:” Integration Of Trauma Healing And Behavior Change For People Who Choose Violence

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