In this response, I would like to begin with discussion about Chapter 4 of The Body Keeps the Score. In several paragraphs, Van der Kolk first described the normal neural procedure of how several different parts of our brains process and integrate sensory signals into a “fully blended autobiographical soup”, internalizing this comprehensive group of information as our memory. However, the author did not particularly stress that “what”, an outer case to be more precise, leads to formation of trauma. Instead he only focus on the incompleteness caused by emotional overload in biological activities of thalamus, amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex, to name a few. This made me think of the unfair reality that victims were often blamed that they “overreacted” or “grasp on something that already passes”. In fact, I believe that the victims are those who hope the most to overcome the nightmare they are in. However, sadly as Van der Kolk mentioned several times in the text, there is a big chance that the suffered would never fully recover from the unbearable consequences of the “collapsed” biological programs. Van der Kolk emphasizes that trauma is also social and depends on social interactions for healing.

On the other hand, Truth and Repair by Judith Herman explored trauma from a more social perspective. Herman chose to analyze how the wounded could not effectively heal themselves owing to incapability of acquiring the ideal “justice” in their imagination from the “outer” environmental, even national aspect. A major reason why those traumatized could not easily redeem from the traumatic memory and feeling is that the three actions: acknowledgement, apology, and accountability, they asked for from the outside world unfortunately cannot be necessarily all satisfied under most circumstances. Furthermore, as Herman concentrated on victims of sexual abuse, most of whom are women and children, she also implied that it is way harder for these groups to regain dignity and peace without being severely harmed in the process of authoritative investigation and court judgement, which is likely to result from the inequality in status between them and the perpetrators. One thing I learned from this book is Herman’s proposal that the system of judgement was originally designed for the privileged centuries ago, mostly old, white men, thus what it values can be said to be inappropriate and noxious for the majority of victims nowadays. This has been a long-standing situation existing for hundreds of years, yet hardly anyone has formally addressed it. I strongly agree with her claim that the systematical design of a trial aims for absolute rationality of the two sides without awareness of the survivors’ fury against the assaulters. Or, this lack of awareness can be intentional, stemming from the suspicion from the official toward the victims that they will “irrationally” seek revenge. Nevertheless, how can one not hold hatred to the person who deprive everything from him/her? If an abuse is going to be examined in public sphere, then trauma should also be seen.

Last but not least, I would like to recommend a highly entertaining but also meaningful Korean drama The Devil Judge, centering around the complicated relationship between the court and the authority which tried their utmost to take control over it. Great suggestion! Thank you!