Transformation of Childhood Traumatic Experiences to Violence

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.

Keywords

• Trauma,Child Abuse,Family Violence,Adverse Childhood Experiences,Attachment

Çocukluk Çağı Travmatik Deneyimlerinin Şiddete Dönüşümü

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Travma,Çocuk İstismarı,Aile İçi Şiddet,Olumsuz Çocukluk Deneyimleri,Bağlanma

Kaynakça

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