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Transformation of Childhood Traumatic Experiences to Violence

Year 2020, , 1 - 7, 30.06.2020
https://doi.org/10.31461/ybpd.668294

Abstract

Although there are several genetic, social, cultural, and evolutionary explanations for violence, this article will only be based on a psychological aspect with a special focus on trauma theory. Traumatic events in childhood including witnessing family violence and experiencing abuse, neglect, loss and abandonment can cause long term emotional pain and distress. Particularly, trauma becomes more severe when children are victims of family violence and parents who are supposed to love, protect, and reassure children become violent and threatening. Traumatic events leave children with overwhelming feelings of fear, anger, and vulnerability. Many authors emphasized the link between childhood traumatic experiences and aggressive behaviors, and they consider trauma and violence inseparable. However, there is little research focusing on the developmental aspects of this relation. Bowlby’s attachment theory suggests that traumatic experiences interrupt a child’s secure attachment and they generate attachment injuries that interfere with obtaining healthy relationships. Ferenczi’s identification with the aggressor theory claims that traumatic experience teaches children both roles: victim role and the abuser role. Trauma in children and youth, differently than trauma in adults, affects underdeveloped personalities and it has a significant role in building the immature personality of children. This article focuses on explaining how childhood traumatic experiences turn into violence in light of Bowlby and Ferenczi's theories.

References

  • Bacon, H., & Richardson, S. (2001). Attachment theory and child abuse: An overview of the literature for practitioners. Child Abuse Review, 10(6), 377-397.
  • Bosqui, T.J., Shannon, C., Tiernan, B., Beattie, N., Ferguson, J., & Mulholland, C. (2014). Childhood trauma and the risk of violence in adulthood in a population with a psychotic illness. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 54, 121-125.
  • Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Volume 1: Attachment. New York: Basic Books.
  • Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Volume 2: Separation: Anxiety and anger. New York: Basic Books.
  • Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. New York: Basic Books.
  • Bridge, E.N., & Duman, N. (2018). Identifying pedophile. Life Skills Journal of Psychology, 2(4), 215-222.
  • Cook, A., Spinazzola, J., Ford, J., Lanktree, C., Blaustein, M., Cloitre, M., . . . & Van der Kolk, B. (2005). Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 390-398.
  • Cyr, C., Euser, E.M., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J., & Van Ijzendoorn, M.H. (2010). Attachment security and disorganization in maltreating and high-risk families: A series of meta-analyses. Development and Psychopathology, 22(1), 87-108.
  • Day, D.M., Hart, T.A., Wanklyn, S.G., McCay, E., Macpherson, A., & Burnier, N. (2013). Potential mediators between child abuse and both violence and victimization in juvenile offenders. Psychol Serv, 10(1), 1-11.
  • Dozier, M., Stovall-McClough, K.C., & Albus, K.E. (2008). Attachment and psychopathology in adulthood. In J. Cassidy & P.R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (p. 718-744). The Guilford Press.
  • Duke, N.N., Pettingell, S.L., McMorris, B.J., & Borowsky, I.W. (2010). Adolescent violence perpetration: Associations with multiple types of adverse childhood experiences. Pediatrics, 125(4), 778-786.
  • Dyer, K.F.W., Dorahy, M. J., Shannon, M., & Corry, M. (2013). Trauma typology as a risk factor for aggression and self-harm in a complex PTSD population: The mediating role of alterations in self-perception. J Trauma Dissociation, 14(1), 56-68.
  • Ethier, L.S., Lemelin, J.P., & Lacharité, C. (2004). A longitudinal study of the effects of chronic maltreatment on children's behavioral and emotional problems. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28(12), 1265-1278.
  • Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258.
  • Ferenczi, S. (1933). Confusion of tongues between adults and the child. The language of tenderness and of passion. In Final contributions to the problems and methods of psycho-analysis (pp. 156-167). London: Karnac Books, 1980. Also see: Confusion of the tongues between the adults and the child (The language of tenderness and of passion). International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 1949, 30, 225-231.
  • Frankel, J. (2002). Exploring Ferenczi's concept of identification with the aggressor: Its role in trauma, everyday life, and the therapeutic relationship. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 12(1), 101-139.
  • Fox, B.H., Perez, N., Cass, E., Baglivio, M.T., & Epps, N. (2015). Trauma changes everything: Examining the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and serious, violent and chronic juvenile offenders. Child Abuse & Neglect, 46, 163-173.
  • Gilbert, R., Spatz Widom, C., Browne, K., Fergusson, D., Webb, E., & Janson, J. (2009). Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries. The Lancet, 373(9657), 68-81.
  • Haapasalo, J., & Pokela, E. (1999). Child-rearing and child abuse antecedents of criminality. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 4(1), 107-127.
  • Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery. New York: Basic Books.
  • Hildyard, K. L., & Wolf, D. A. (2002). Child neglect: Developmental issues and outcomes. Child Abuse & Neglect, 26(6-7), 679-695.
  • Hordvick, E. (1999). What is psychological trauma? Methods of treatment. in Childhood and Trauma: Separation, Abuse, War. (Ullmann, E., & Hilweg, W., Eds.). Routledge.
  • Howell, E.F. (2014). Ferenczi's concept of identification with the aggressor: Understanding dissociative structure with interacting victim and abuser self-states. The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 74(1), 48-59.
  • Maas, C., Herrenkohl, T., & Sousa, C. (2008). Review of research on child maltreatment and violence in youth. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 9(1), 56-67.
  • Mills, C. (2004). Problems at home, problems at school: The effects of maltreatment in the home on children's functioning at school. An overview of recent research. London: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
  • Pynoos, R. S., & Eth, S. (1985). Children traumatized by witnessing of personal violence. In: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children, Chap. 2, ed. S. Eth & R. Pynoos. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press.
  • Shaffer, A., Huston, L., & Egeland, B. (2008). Identification of child maltreatment using prospective and self-report methodologies: A comparison of maltreatment incidence and relation to later psychopathology. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32(7), 682-692.
  • Shonkoff, J.P., & Garner, A.S. (2012). Committee on psychosocial aspects of child and family health committee on early childhood, adoption, and dependent care section on developmental and behavioral pediatrics the lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatrics, 129(1), 232-246.
  • Spitzer, C., Chevalier, C., Gillner, M., Freyberger, H. J., & Barnow, S. (2006). Complex posttraumatic stress disorder and child maltreatment in forensic inpatients. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 17(2), 204-216.
  • Streeck-Fischer, A., & van der Kolk, B. A. (2000). Down will come baby, cradle and all: Diagnostic and therapeutic implications of chronic trauma on child development. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 34(6), 903-918.
  • Trickett, P.K., Negriff, S., Ji, J., & Peckins, M. (2011). Child maltreatment and adolescent development. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(1), 3-20.
  • Van der Kolk, B.A. (2017). Developmental trauma disorder: Toward a rational diagnosis for children with complex trauma histories. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 401-408.
  • Webb, N.B. (Ed.). (2015). Clinical practice with children, adolescents, and families. Play therapy with children and adolescents in crisis (4th ed.). New York, NY, US: The Guilford Press.
  • What is child trauma? National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2019). Retrieved from nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/about-child-trauma.
  • WHO Violence and Injury Prevention. (2019). Retrieved from who.int/violence _injury_prevention/en/.
  • WHO Violence Prevention. (2019). Retrieved from who.int/violence_injury_ prevention/violence/en/.

Çocukluk Çağı Travmatik Deneyimlerinin Şiddete Dönüşümü

Year 2020, , 1 - 7, 30.06.2020
https://doi.org/10.31461/ybpd.668294

Abstract

Şiddetle ilgili genetik, sosyal, kültürel ve evrimsel açıklamalar olmasına rağmen, bu makale sadece travma teorisine odaklanan psikolojik bir bakış açısını temel alacaktır. Çocukluktaki istismar, ihmal, aile içi şiddete tanık olma, kayıp yaşama ve terk edilme gibi travmatik olaylar uzun süreli duygusal acı ve strese neden olabilmektedir. Çocuklar özellikle aile içi şiddet mağduru olduklarında, kendilerini sevmeleri, korumaları ve güven vermeleri gereken ebeveynler kendilerine şiddet ve tehdit oluşturmakta ve travma daha şiddetli hale gelmektedir. Travmatik olaylar çocukları yoğun korku, öfke ve kırılganlık hisleri ile başbaşa bırakmaktadır. Birçok araştırmacı, çocukluk çağı travmatik deneyimleri ile saldırgan davranışlar arasındaki bağlantıyı vurgulayarak, travma ve şiddeti birbirinden ayrılmaz olarak görmüşlerdir. Ancak, çok az çalışma travma ile şiddet arasındaki ilişkinin gelişimsel yönüne odaklanmıştır. Bowlby'nin bağlanma teorisi, travmatik deneyimlerin çocuğun güvenli bağlanmasını ve sağlıklı ilişkiler kurmalarını engelleyen önemli bağlanma yaralanmalarına yol açtığını öne sürmektedir. Ferenczi’nin saldırganla özdeşleşme kuramı travmatik deneyimin çocuklara mağdur rolü ve istismarcı rolü olmak üzere her iki rolü de öğrettiğini ileri sürmektedir. Çocuklarda ve gençlerdeki travmanın, yetişkinlerdeki travmadan farklı olarak olgunlaşmamış ya da az gelişmiş kişilikleri etkilediğini ve kişilik gelişiminde önemli bir rol oynadığını iddia etmektedir. Bu makale, Bowlby ve Ferenczi'nin teorileri ışığında çocukluk travmatik deneyimlerinin nasıl şiddete dönüştüğü açıklanmasına odaklanmaktadır.

References

  • Bacon, H., & Richardson, S. (2001). Attachment theory and child abuse: An overview of the literature for practitioners. Child Abuse Review, 10(6), 377-397.
  • Bosqui, T.J., Shannon, C., Tiernan, B., Beattie, N., Ferguson, J., & Mulholland, C. (2014). Childhood trauma and the risk of violence in adulthood in a population with a psychotic illness. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 54, 121-125.
  • Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Volume 1: Attachment. New York: Basic Books.
  • Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Volume 2: Separation: Anxiety and anger. New York: Basic Books.
  • Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. New York: Basic Books.
  • Bridge, E.N., & Duman, N. (2018). Identifying pedophile. Life Skills Journal of Psychology, 2(4), 215-222.
  • Cook, A., Spinazzola, J., Ford, J., Lanktree, C., Blaustein, M., Cloitre, M., . . . & Van der Kolk, B. (2005). Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 390-398.
  • Cyr, C., Euser, E.M., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J., & Van Ijzendoorn, M.H. (2010). Attachment security and disorganization in maltreating and high-risk families: A series of meta-analyses. Development and Psychopathology, 22(1), 87-108.
  • Day, D.M., Hart, T.A., Wanklyn, S.G., McCay, E., Macpherson, A., & Burnier, N. (2013). Potential mediators between child abuse and both violence and victimization in juvenile offenders. Psychol Serv, 10(1), 1-11.
  • Dozier, M., Stovall-McClough, K.C., & Albus, K.E. (2008). Attachment and psychopathology in adulthood. In J. Cassidy & P.R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (p. 718-744). The Guilford Press.
  • Duke, N.N., Pettingell, S.L., McMorris, B.J., & Borowsky, I.W. (2010). Adolescent violence perpetration: Associations with multiple types of adverse childhood experiences. Pediatrics, 125(4), 778-786.
  • Dyer, K.F.W., Dorahy, M. J., Shannon, M., & Corry, M. (2013). Trauma typology as a risk factor for aggression and self-harm in a complex PTSD population: The mediating role of alterations in self-perception. J Trauma Dissociation, 14(1), 56-68.
  • Ethier, L.S., Lemelin, J.P., & Lacharité, C. (2004). A longitudinal study of the effects of chronic maltreatment on children's behavioral and emotional problems. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28(12), 1265-1278.
  • Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258.
  • Ferenczi, S. (1933). Confusion of tongues between adults and the child. The language of tenderness and of passion. In Final contributions to the problems and methods of psycho-analysis (pp. 156-167). London: Karnac Books, 1980. Also see: Confusion of the tongues between the adults and the child (The language of tenderness and of passion). International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 1949, 30, 225-231.
  • Frankel, J. (2002). Exploring Ferenczi's concept of identification with the aggressor: Its role in trauma, everyday life, and the therapeutic relationship. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 12(1), 101-139.
  • Fox, B.H., Perez, N., Cass, E., Baglivio, M.T., & Epps, N. (2015). Trauma changes everything: Examining the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and serious, violent and chronic juvenile offenders. Child Abuse & Neglect, 46, 163-173.
  • Gilbert, R., Spatz Widom, C., Browne, K., Fergusson, D., Webb, E., & Janson, J. (2009). Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries. The Lancet, 373(9657), 68-81.
  • Haapasalo, J., & Pokela, E. (1999). Child-rearing and child abuse antecedents of criminality. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 4(1), 107-127.
  • Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery. New York: Basic Books.
  • Hildyard, K. L., & Wolf, D. A. (2002). Child neglect: Developmental issues and outcomes. Child Abuse & Neglect, 26(6-7), 679-695.
  • Hordvick, E. (1999). What is psychological trauma? Methods of treatment. in Childhood and Trauma: Separation, Abuse, War. (Ullmann, E., & Hilweg, W., Eds.). Routledge.
  • Howell, E.F. (2014). Ferenczi's concept of identification with the aggressor: Understanding dissociative structure with interacting victim and abuser self-states. The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 74(1), 48-59.
  • Maas, C., Herrenkohl, T., & Sousa, C. (2008). Review of research on child maltreatment and violence in youth. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 9(1), 56-67.
  • Mills, C. (2004). Problems at home, problems at school: The effects of maltreatment in the home on children's functioning at school. An overview of recent research. London: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
  • Pynoos, R. S., & Eth, S. (1985). Children traumatized by witnessing of personal violence. In: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children, Chap. 2, ed. S. Eth & R. Pynoos. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press.
  • Shaffer, A., Huston, L., & Egeland, B. (2008). Identification of child maltreatment using prospective and self-report methodologies: A comparison of maltreatment incidence and relation to later psychopathology. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32(7), 682-692.
  • Shonkoff, J.P., & Garner, A.S. (2012). Committee on psychosocial aspects of child and family health committee on early childhood, adoption, and dependent care section on developmental and behavioral pediatrics the lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatrics, 129(1), 232-246.
  • Spitzer, C., Chevalier, C., Gillner, M., Freyberger, H. J., & Barnow, S. (2006). Complex posttraumatic stress disorder and child maltreatment in forensic inpatients. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 17(2), 204-216.
  • Streeck-Fischer, A., & van der Kolk, B. A. (2000). Down will come baby, cradle and all: Diagnostic and therapeutic implications of chronic trauma on child development. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 34(6), 903-918.
  • Trickett, P.K., Negriff, S., Ji, J., & Peckins, M. (2011). Child maltreatment and adolescent development. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(1), 3-20.
  • Van der Kolk, B.A. (2017). Developmental trauma disorder: Toward a rational diagnosis for children with complex trauma histories. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 401-408.
  • Webb, N.B. (Ed.). (2015). Clinical practice with children, adolescents, and families. Play therapy with children and adolescents in crisis (4th ed.). New York, NY, US: The Guilford Press.
  • What is child trauma? National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2019). Retrieved from nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/about-child-trauma.
  • WHO Violence and Injury Prevention. (2019). Retrieved from who.int/violence _injury_prevention/en/.
  • WHO Violence Prevention. (2019). Retrieved from who.int/violence_injury_ prevention/violence/en/.
There are 36 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Psychology
Journal Section Volume:4, Issue:7 June
Authors

Esra Nihan Bridge 0000-0001-5600-3129

Nesrin Duman 0000-0002-2751-8315

Publication Date June 30, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020

Cite

APA Bridge, E. N., & Duman, N. (2020). Transformation of Childhood Traumatic Experiences to Violence. Yaşam Becerileri Psikoloji Dergisi, 4(7), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.31461/ybpd.668294