THE ROLE OF HIDDEN PERSPECTIVES
From the moment a child is born, they begin the process of socialization and integration. Socialization is the process by which people learn appropriate attitudes, values, and behaviors. These three concepts vary based on culture and can heavily impact the level of integration an individual achieves within society. As a child, they learn about what is acceptable and what is not. Integration is defined as the level in which a person feels connected to or accepted by the society. This can greatly influence an individuals life, specifically after experiencing a traumatic event or responding to a traumatic scenario. Depending on the perspectives of varying societies, individuals tend to portray unintentional biases.
In the Spring of 2020, I enrolled in SOCY 101 Introduction to Sociology with Dr. Majdouline Aziz. While attending this class, we learned about cultural and societal differences. These differences focused around the idea that what may be considered acceptable in one society may not be acceptable in another. One of these differences referred to social interactions. Social interaction is defined as the ways people respond to one another. For example, the way we respond to others in the United States may not be how people of other cultures respond to others. When referring to trauma, it is critical to not respond in an inappropriate manner. Without realization, people can respond to situations differently based on the victims culture, race, ethnicity, or political standpoints. Generally, it is in an unintentional response that has been formed by previous experiences or knowledge.
While conducting our research, a few interesting patterns were noticed through the use of the eye tracker. When participants were presented with scenarios and stock photos of women, it became apparent that the majority fixated longer on the chest region of stock photos presenting black women, and fixated longer on the head region of stock photos presenting white women. The racial differences between the women proved to be significant further into the research. However, it was not a variable that we were focusing on initially. Rather, it was something that became apparent after increasing the participant numbers. The fixations are an example of biases within society. Two women of different races experienced the same trauma; however, participants focused on the chest region of black women instead of the head region. This represents an unintentional biased as the stock photos of the white women were taken more personally.
Four Different Conditions Used in Research
White/Stranger V. Black/Stranger
White/married V. Black/married
Bias is defined as prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. Biases can impact the way people interact, both positively and negatively. When people who maintain similar biases interact, they have more in common. As a result, they tend to have a stronger connection because they have more common viewpoints. However, people that maintain opposite biases may not get along due to the varying views. When acknowledging a victim of a traumatic event, it is important to eliminate any potentially biased opinions. Biased or judgmental opinions can deter a victim from expressing their emotions in a healthy manner. The primary goal of interacting with the victim is to understand their experience and how it has affected their mental health. It is important that they are able to communicate without the fear of being viewed negatively so that they can process the event in their mind, as well.
When someone experiences trauma, it is important that they are given the option to openly communicate with friends, family, or a professional. The level of connectedness an individual feels with those that surrounds them can be a life or death matter after experiencing a trauma, especially in terms of veterans and victims of sexual assault. One study reported that “…respondents who reported they have family and friends with whom they could discuss their deployment and who perceived a greater sense of purpose and control were less likely to report suicidal ideation” (Pietrzak, et al.). Having a healthy support system allows the victim to process what they have experienced. Not only that, but it gives them the opportunity to express any negative emotions they feel. Without a support group, the individual is at a higher risk of suicide as a result of the trauma due to feelings such as anxiety, depression, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and many others. However, a support group is known to act as a buffer for those feelings.