Interviewing Victims of Traumatic Human Rights Abuses

Prishtina, Kosovo July 25 - Aug 8, 2001
Jack Saul, Ph.D.
Director, International Trauma Studies Program
New York University
Tel. 212.992.9669 Fax 212.995.4143 email trauma.studies@nyu.edu
www.nyu.edu/trauma.studies

I. Common psychological aftereffects of Trauma

A. Post traumatic stress disorder
1. Reexperiencing (intrusive symptoms)
2. Avoiding (numbing and denial)
3. Increased arousal

B. Other psychological disorders
1. Anxiety
2. Depressive reactions
3. Somatic complaints
4. Substance abuse
5. Sexual disorders
6. Organic impairment

C. Other difficulties experienced as a consequence of torture and political violence
1. Alterations of identity and confusion in relation to reality
2. Survivor guilt and the problem of complicity
3. Disruption of capacity to adequately assess danger
4. Difficulty modulating affect and impulses
5. Social isolation
6. Interruption of the symbolizing process

   


II. Conducting interviews with victims of human rights abuses

A. Preparation
1. Anticipate and address possible barriers to effective communication
a) environmental - privacy, comfort of setting, adequate amount of time for interview,
    gender of interviewer (particularly in cases of sexual violation)
b) Physical/psychological barriers - physical pain and discomfort, fatigue, sensory deficits,
    psycholigical disorders, cognitive deficits  
c) Sociocultural barriers - cultural differences, language issues, the use of interpreters
d) Make efforts to minimize aspects of the interview situation which may mimic the abuse situation
2. Prepare social support for the informant during and after the interview if necessary

B. The interview
1. Explain the process of the interview, give the informant control, and the right to place limits,
    recognition of difficulty speaking about the abuse
2. Establish rapport, respectfulness, connection to the person beyond the violation
3. Good listening skills - allow victim to tell story at first with as few interruptions as possible,
    use of open ended questions, showing acknowledgement, communicating empathy and
    concern, allowing for silences
4. Pacing - adjusting to the informant's readiness to speak about certain aspects of his
    or her experience,
5. Mimesis - adjusting to informant's style of expressivity
6. Giving opportunity for informant to ask questions
7. Confidentiality and security

C. Informant's experience during the interview
1. Recognition of informant's life situation, safety issues, living situation, basic needs,
    is person participating freely?
2. Be aware of the variability of emotional expression of trauma survivor - demeanor may
    not match the person's suffering, cultural variations in emotional expression
3. Reexperiencing of feelings related to the traumatic situation. Common emotional
    responses - terror, shame, despair, rage, confusion, humiliation, powerlessness,
4. Psychological reactions that can present obstacles to the interview process -
    memory and concentration difficulties, dissociation, somatic complaints -
    painsand headaches, sleep deprivation, traumatic triggers

   


III. Interviewing strategies and Reactions to Interview

A. Interview Strategies
1. Sensitivity to informant's emotional responses during interview,
    emotional changes and cues to stop
2. Knowing when enough detailed information about traumatic experiences is enough,
    looking for details to establish consistency in more neutral areas
3. Use of group interviews to enhance data collecting, shared memory and promote
    bonding with other members of the group
4. Use of non-verbal modalities (drawings and dramatic enactments) to bridge
    language and culture gaps
5. Interviewing children

B. Interviewer reactions - secondary or vicarious traumatization
1. Trauma is contagious - interviewer may experience PTSD reactions
2. Trauma stories may revive personally traumatic experiences in the interviewer
3. Feelings of helplessness and rescue fantasies
4. Shattered world assumptions
5. Having to come to terms with one's own capacity for sadism and evil
6. Witness guilt

C. Coping with vicarious trauma reactions
1. Ongoing supportive environment
2. Debriefing after hearing trauma stories
3. Anticipation of vicarious trauma reactions
4. Taking care of oneself
5. Use of humor
6. Avoiding repetition of visual traumatic imagery
7. Relaxation, taking periodic breaks or vacations from work

D. Creating a safe and supportive work environment
1. Working with trauma can cause ruptures in organizations
2. Reactions are anticipated and normalized
3. Risks of vicarious traumatization are discussed - an organizational plan to
    support staff is developed
4. Regular opportunities to meet and talk about how one is affected by the work
5. Debriefing of information as well as emotional experience