Research
This video was developed to give a basic introduction and overview of how trauma and chronic stress affects our nervous system and how those effects impact our health and well-being. Much of the content is based on the groundbreaking work of Stephen Porges and his Polyvagal Theory and inspired and informed by the work of thought leaders Deb Dana, Vincent Felitti, Robert Anda, Gabor Mate, Dan Siegel and Peter Levine.
For CC and Translated versions please click here.
To learn more about trauma recovery and nervous system health resources, please visit The Trauma Foundation and the Polyvagal Institute.
Robert Sapolsky is an author, Stanford professor and biology/neuroendocrinology researcher who believes that humans don't have free will, and that all of our decisions and behaviors are a result of how our brain has developed. Influences on brain development of course include genetics, hormones, environment and experiences, nutrition, disease and more.
In this sense, Sapolsky believes that a person who robs a drugstore is no more making a “choice” than a person who has a seizure: Our actions are a result of our biological processes and development, and largely beyond our control. He explains that our decisions and capacity to make them only change if circumstances change, and thus our behavior is a product of our experiences and the world around us more than it is a reflection of ourselves.
The CDC-Kaiser ACE Study (1997)
The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study was the original ACE study, and with over 17,000 participants, is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect and household challenges and later-life health and well-being.
The study revealed correlations between high ACE scores and education outcomes, occupations, income, substance abuse, cancer and diabetes, HIV and STDs, pregnancy complications and miscarriages, mental health and brain injury, fractures and burns.
The Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) in the Lives of Juvenile Offenders (2014)
The Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences is a 2014 paper that cites evidence and statistics directly linking the number of ACEs you have to involvement in the criminal justice system. For example, 50% of Florida’s juvenile offenders have 4 or more ACEs, and over 20% have 3 or more.
The National Conference of State Legislature exists to advance the effectiveness and integrity of legislatures in the states, territories and commonwealths of the U.S. This section of their website provides more information about the prevalence of ACEs in the criminal justice system. The research they share highlights how multiple studies have found that ACEs are much more prevalent among minority groups. They provide a list of resources on how to prevent ACEs from occuring in the first place, as well as how to treat them after the fact.
