1. The Power of an Authority to Inflict Trauma
November 28, 2012
| Last Updated on Friday, 17 May, 2013 16:50
Trauma as Defined by Merriam-Webster:
a : an injury (as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent
b : a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical
injury
c : an emotional upset <the personal trauma of an executive who is not living up to his own
expectations — Karen W. Arenson>
2 : an agent, force, or mechanism that causes trauma
Living With Trauma
We all have trauma in our lives, some more than others. Trauma can be many things to many different
people. Verbal Abuse, Seeing a car accident, a loved one taking their own life, all of these things are
types of trauma. It can be something as simple as a loved one or authority figure shouting at you or
saying something nasty or it could take the form of sexual abuse. Just like to people looking at an ink
blot can see two different things, what could be traumatic to one person, may not be to another. That is
part of what can make trauma difficult to identify. Some forms are easy to recognize, while others may
not seem like an issue at the time, can grow and fester in the subconscious.
Sometimes a person may not remember the traumatic experience because they have either pushed the
memories so far down inside, or it again, just may not have seemed like it was a big deal at the time.
But even seemingly small incidents can have major repercussions later on in life. For example, a
principle tells a problem student that “They will never amount to anything” or “They will always be
nothing”. While at the time they may not realize it, things said by authority figures can have a lasting
impact, for positive or negative.
Traumatic Experiences
Incidents involving authority figures can be particularly traumatic. These figures, whether they really
have authority or not, have the ability to affect us far more than we may realize. A famous experiment
conducted by Stanley Milgram is a great example of the way the words of an Authority Figure can
affect people. In 1961 Stanley began what is now known as the “Milgram Experiments”. They were
inspired by the defense used by War Criminal Adolf Eichmann during his trial. His defense was that he
was just following orders.
Influential Authority Figures
The study was done to measure the effect of an Authority Figure’s instructions on a person. The person
was given the role of “Teacher” and their job was to use a shock generator to deliver electric shocks to
a person designated as the “Learner” when the “Learner” answered a question incorrectly. The two
were separated by a wall and neither could see the other, the “Teacher” on one side with an Instructor
and the “Learner” on the other. The shocks were delivered by flipping one of many different levers,
each labeled with things like “Slight Shock” or “Moderate Shock” continuing up to “Danger: Severe

2. Shock”.
The final two were labeled “XXX”. Unbeknownst to the “Teacher”, the “Learner” was just a person on
the other side of the wall acting like they were being shocked. The levers didn’t actually deliver shocks
to the “Learner” but the “Teacher” didn’t know that. After a certain point the “Learner” would begin to
bang on the wall and demand to be released or begin complaining about having a heart condition.
After this, the “Learner” would remain silent and not answer any questions. The Instructor would then
tell the “Teacher” to treat the silence as an incorrect answer and deliver the appropriate shock. At this
point most of the “Teachers” would begin to question the Instructor. The Instructor would then respond
with one of several scripted responses.
Of the 40 “Teachers”, 26 delivered the maximum shock level. 14 “Teachers” stopped before delivering
the maximum. While many of the “Teachers” showed various signs of distress at what they were
doing, they continued to deliver the shocks as instructed all the way to the end.
Influencing Others
If an authority figure can influence someone to the point where they are willing to harm another person
against their own will, just imagine what kind of an effect this person can have with negative
statements and actions. All too often we find ourselves angry and speaking without thinking about
what we are really saying. A few words said in anger can alter the course of a person’s life. By this
same thought though, a few kind words or words of encouragement can have a similar effect.
Unfortunately most people tend to remember the negative over the positive, so the effect of positive
statements tends to fade faster than the effect of negative statements. Next time you find yourself in a
shouting match or wanting to verbally lash out at someone, remember the power your words can have
and think about what your are saying.
Find Treatment For Substance Abuse And Childhood Trauma before it consumes your life and the life
of the ones you hold closest to you!