WHAT ARE TRIGGERS AND CUES?
Triggers are situations, actions, or words that bring a memory or feeling to consciousness or which activate a program. They are catalysts, so to speak. Some common devices used to activate programs are telephone calls, letters or greeting cards, and meaning-laden objects sent as “gifts.” The word trigger is used in a very broad sense, and may mean anything from following a command after seeing a hand signal to having a flashback after a dental procedure to getting upset when a friend, co-worker, or supervisor is rude or thoughtless. For clarity, it is a good idea to always specific exactly what was triggered (program, action, emotion, memory, etc.) The word cue is usually used more narrowly and refers specifically to a trigger that activates a program, although it too is starting to be used in a broader sense. Both trigger and cue can be either nouns or verbs.
Triggers are situations, actions, or words that bring a memory or feeling to consciousness or which activate a program. They are catalysts, so to speak. Some common devices used to activate programs are telephone calls, letters or greeting cards, and meaning-laden objects sent as “gifts.” The word trigger is used in a very broad sense, and may mean anything from following a command after seeing a hand signal to having a flashback after a dental procedure to getting upset when a friend, co-worker, or supervisor is rude or thoughtless. For clarity, it is a good idea to always specific exactly what was triggered (program, action, emotion, memory, etc.) The word cue is usually used more narrowly and refers specifically to a trigger that activates a program, although it too is starting to be used in a broader sense. Both trigger and cue can be either nouns or verbs.
