Description

The Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey (BBTS) is a psychometric tool designed to assess individuals’ experiences of betrayal and trauma. This scale includes questions that examine whether a person has experienced various types of traumatic events, particularly those involving betrayal by people close to them or on whom they were dependent (such as family members or close friends). The BBTS focuses on a range of traumatic experiences, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as other forms of betrayal.

Purpose

The primary goal of the BBTS is to provide a brief and reliable tool for identifying and quantifying individuals’ experiences of betrayal and trauma. This tool assists researchers and clinicians in better understanding the impact of betrayal and trauma on mental health and in developing appropriate interventions and treatments for survivors.

Analysis

The analysis of data collected through the BBTS involves the use of statistical methods to assess the reliability and validity of the tool. Reliability analysis, such as Cronbach’s alpha, is used to ensure internal consistency among the items. Construct validity may be examined through factor analysis, while content validity is assessed by examining responses in relation to other measures of psychological distress and trauma.

Calibration

The BBTS is calibrated using either a Likert scale or simple dichotomous (yes/no) responses, where participants are asked to indicate whether they have experienced the listed traumatic events. These responses are aggregated to provide an overall picture of the individual’s trauma history. Total scores can be used to categorize levels of exposure to betrayal and trauma.

References

Freyd, J. J. (1996). Betrayal Trauma: The Logic of Forgetting Childhood Abuse. Harvard University Press.
Goldsmith, R. E., Freyd, J. J., & DePrince, A. P. (2012). Betrayal trauma: Associations with psychological and physical symptoms in young adults. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(3), 547–567.
Gobin, R. L., & Freyd, J. J. (2014). The impact of betrayal trauma on the tendency to trust. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 6(5), 505–511.
DePrince, A. P., & Freyd, J. J. (2002). The harm of trauma: Pathological fear, shattered assumptions, or betrayal? In J. Kauffman (Ed.), Loss of the Assumptive World: A Theory of Traumatic Loss (pp. 71–82). Brunner-Routledge.
Freyd, J. J., Klest, B., & Allard, C. B. (2005). Betrayal trauma: Relationship to physical health, psychological distress, and a written disclosure intervention. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 6(3), 83–104.