In the Courage Brief we share new scientific research and analysis along with news about our educational work and events.
Most Recent Courage Brief
October 2024
Dear Friends of Courage,
In this issue of the Courage Brief we present two new articles about institutional betrayal and institutional courage.
The first piece, by Aubrie Patterson, MS, and Laura Noll, PhD, titled "Reconsidering Religious Trauma: The Critical Need for Betrayal-Related Research in Religious Communities," explores the intersection of sexual abuse, religious settings, and psychological well-being. Funded by the Center for Institutional Courage, their research aims to explore the ways religious institutions can cause unique layers of trauma and institutional betrayal, including "spiritual violence."
The second article, "What Do Leaders Need to Do the Right Thing?" by Monica J. Casper, PhD, reflects on her experiences in higher education and the complexities of addressing institutional betrayal. Dr. Casper emphasizes the need for systemic change and courageous leadership, sharing initiatives from her time at San Diego State University that prioritized survivor support and cultural change to create more humane environments.
Courage’s impact was also evident in a news report about the recently released Zero Tolerance Code of Conduct published by the European Commission of the EU. Marcela Linková, PhD, a researcher involved in the creation of the code, is quoted in the article commenting that implementing the code will require “institutional courage and leadership”.
The Center for Institutional Courage was also a topic of conversation in a recently aired “Fireside Chat” in which I participated and that is now available for viewing.
Selected additional articles by and about members of our team are listed at the end of this issue of the Courage Brief.
Prior Courage Briefs
April 2024: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; What Do Leaders Need to Do the Right Thing?; Reconsidering Religious Trauma: The Critical Need for Betrayal-Related Research in Religious Communities
October 2023: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; The Cultural Betrayal of Black Women & Girls: Dreamstorming from Sexual Abuse to Liberatio; Institutional Betrayal and Courage: Unearthing Trends, Gaps, and Opportunities in Research
July 2023: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; Institutional Courage Through Bilding Community: Steps Forward after Institutional Betrayal at the University of Michigan; DARVO and Systemic Oppression
April 2023: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; DARVO and the Dark Triad; Institutional Betrayal in the Most Innocent of Places
February 2023: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; New Research; Institutional Courage Before We Had the Term Sexual Harassment.
November 2022: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; Preventing Unwanted Sexual Attention at Work.
September 2022: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article on using institutional courage to fight obstetric gaslighting.
July 2022: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spolight article where Courage Board Member and Education Advisory Committee Chair Ross CHeit interview Sofia Boracci on archiving activism and its relevance to institutional courage.
May 2022: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article where Courage Senior Advisor Dr. Anne DePrince discusses how to move from unawareness to action regarding violence against women; and recent works by and about members of the Courage Team.
March 2022: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article where Courage Board Director and Treasurer Dr. Caroline Simard considers "what if" institutions acted with courage; and recent works by and about members of the Courage Team.
January 2022: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article where newly elected Courage Board Secretary Lisa Howe Verhovek is interviewed by Courage Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Sarah Harsey; and recent works by and about members of the Courage Team.
November 2021: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article by Courage Education Advisor Dr. Kathryn Becker-Blease about an institution's ongoing commitment to institutional courage; and recent works by and about members of the Courage Team.
September 2021: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article by Courage Affiliated Educator Dr. Kathryn Quina about incarcerated women and the relevance of institutional betrayal and institutional courage; and recent works by and about members of the Courage Team.
July 2021: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article by Courage Research Associate Melissa Barnes describing her theory on Collective Ongoing Betrayal Trauma; and recent works by and about members of the Courage Team.
May 2021: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article where Courage Education Advisor Kim Scott is interviewed by Board Secretary Dr. Lisa Schievelbein about institutional courage in the workplace; and recent works by and about members of the Courage Team.
March 2021: Opening letter by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article on community engagement and institutional courage by Courage Senior Advisor Dr. Anne DePrince; and recent works by and about members of the Courage Team.
January 2021: Opening letter and update on Courage by President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article on institutional courage, blocking bias, and issues of DEI by Courage Senior Advisor Lori Nishiura Mackenzie; and scientific and media articles by and about members of the Courage Team.
November 2020: Opening letter by Courage President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article on institutional betrayal and dignity by Courage Affiliated Educator Dr. Michael Salter; and articles and other works by members of the Courage Team.
September 2020: Discussion of our new website content by Courage President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article on institutional betrayal in high school by Courage Research Associates Monika Lind and Alexis Adams-Clark; scientific and media articles by and about members of the Courage Team.
July 2020: Commentary by Courage President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd on institutional courage and betrayal related to current events in the United States; a spotlight article on new DARVO research; scientific and media articles featuring members of the Courage Team.
June 2020: Introduction to The Courage Brief by Courage President and Founder Dr. Jennifer Freyd; a spotlight article on Board Director and Research Advisory Committee Chair Dr. Jennifer Gómez; scientific and media articles featuring members of the Courage Team.