The Impact of Trauma on Behavior and Brain Development Flashcards

According to TCI, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect brain development primarily by:

Answer: Dysregulating the stress response system, making the brain more reactive to perceived threats

Chronic trauma exposure dysregulates the brain's stress response system, leading to hyperreactivity and difficulty distinguishing real from perceived threats.

In TCI, trauma-informed care means that caregivers:

Answer: Understand how trauma affects behavior and design their approach to avoid re-traumatization

Trauma-informed care means understanding the pervasive impact of trauma and deliberately structuring care to avoid re-traumatization while promoting healing.

A young person who becomes highly aggressive when someone touches their shoulder unexpectedly is MOST likely demonstrating:

Answer: A trauma-triggered fight response to a sensory input associated with past harm

Unexpected physical contact can trigger a fight response in a young person whose trauma involved physical harm - the brain interprets the touch as threat.

Which brain structure, often called the smoke alarm of the brain, is particularly sensitized by trauma exposure according to TCI training?

Answer: Amygdala

The amygdala, which detects and responds to threats, becomes hyperactivated and hypersensitive after chronic trauma exposure.

TCI teaches that the behaviors of traumatized young people should be understood as:

Answer: Adaptive survival responses that made sense in a dangerous past context

Behaviors developed in response to trauma were adaptive survival strategies - understanding this reframes defiance as a learned protective response.

According to TCI, which is a key element of trauma-informed crisis intervention?

Answer: Prioritizing physical and emotional safety, predictability, and trusting relationships

Trauma-informed crisis intervention prioritizes safety, predictability, and relationship - the three conditions most likely to support a traumatized nervous system.