The powerful, lasting, and dangerous progression of Adverse Childhood Experiences has been well documented. When a parent or caregiver inflicts trauma of any kind upon a child, the burden of that trauma can extend beyond the trauma itself. To better understand why caregiver-inflicted trauma may be particularly damaging to a child's subsequent relationships and life choices, these will be discussed in tandem with the concepts of Attachment Theory and Adlerian private logic.
Attachment Theory emphasizes the early forms of connection and bonding a with one’s primary caregivers. A securely attached child tends to grow into a person stable in relationships, and a person who utilizes healthy coping skills to regulate one's emotions in times of conflict or stress. Meanwhile, Adlerian private logic deals with one's deepest and innermost assumptions/beliefs of life, self, and others.
Alfred Adler's conceptualization of one's private logic helps provide insight into why suffering trauma at the hands of a caregiver may require an extra dose of resilience on the part of a child. The specific nature of the trauma could be varied, and range from physical, sexual, emotional abuse or abandonment by a parent. The effects of this trauma on the child, in Adlerian terms, would be two-fold.
First, and most obvious, would be the trauma itself, however of primary concern to this article is what amounts to a second, hidden level of traumatization - the reduction to rubble of the child's private logic concerning the trustworthiness of one's caregivers. A child who has first learned to trust one's caregiver, will already have established private logic that one's parents/caregivers are advocates who can be trusted beyond all others. Upon suffering caregiver-inflicted trauma, a child must not only deal with the trauma itself, but must also rebuild a private logic in which one's parent is no longer safe, no longer "there" for the child, and no longer worth the child's trust. This change in a victim's private logic will also be inextricably linked to the child's attachment style, with the likely result being an insecure attachment.
A child with an insecure attachment style and a private logic that advises the child that others are not to be trusted, is likely to have difficulty establishing meaningful and healthy relationships as time progresses. Lassiter and Culbreth (2015) noted that is an insecurely attached person's lack of trust in relationships can even extend to distrust of one's therapeutic relationship.
Compounding the challenge of an insecurely attached child is the trauma victim is likely to not be taught healthy emotional coping skills taught by trusted caregivers. In the absence of healthy skills, an insecurely attached child will be more likely to turn to other forms of coping. Lassiter and Culbreth (2015) stated the insecurely attached person may turn to substances as a means of emotional coping during difficulties regarding relationships. Thus not only relationships themselves may prove difficult, but attempts at self care are increased in likelihood to involved substances. Fletcher, Nutton, and Brend (2015) stated that an insecure attachment style disproportionately is found in those with substance use disorders. This point is buttressed by the fact that “People challenged with addictions demonstrate behaviors consistent with insecure attachment styles.” (Lassiter & Culbreth, 2015, p. 150).
Clark, Classen, Fourt, and Shetty (2015) discussed the resilience of trauma survivors. In situations of parental/caregiver traumatization of a child, this resilience is especially tested. Therapists who understand these challenges will better be able to establish a safe and trusting environment and strong therapeutic alliance with survivors of caregiver-inflicted trauma, and will be able to appreciate the true resilience these survivors have displayed.
Alfred Adler's conceptualization of one's private logic helps provide insight into why suffering trauma at the hands of a caregiver may require an extra dose of resilience on the part of a child. The specific nature of the trauma could be varied, and range from physical, sexual, emotional abuse or abandonment by a parent. The effects of this trauma on the child, in Adlerian terms, would be two-fold.
First, and most obvious, would be the trauma itself, however of primary concern to this article is what amounts to a second, hidden level of traumatization - the reduction to rubble of the child's private logic concerning the trustworthiness of one's caregivers. A child who has first learned to trust one's caregiver, will already have established private logic that one's parents/caregivers are advocates who can be trusted beyond all others. Upon suffering caregiver-inflicted trauma, a child must not only deal with the trauma itself, but must also rebuild a private logic in which one's parent is no longer safe, no longer "there" for the child, and no longer worth the child's trust. This change in a victim's private logic will also be inextricably linked to the child's attachment style, with the likely result being an insecure attachment.
A child with an insecure attachment style and a private logic that advises the child that others are not to be trusted, is likely to have difficulty establishing meaningful and healthy relationships as time progresses. Lassiter and Culbreth (2015) noted that is an insecurely attached person's lack of trust in relationships can even extend to distrust of one's therapeutic relationship.
Compounding the challenge of an insecurely attached child is the trauma victim is likely to not be taught healthy emotional coping skills taught by trusted caregivers. In the absence of healthy skills, an insecurely attached child will be more likely to turn to other forms of coping. Lassiter and Culbreth (2015) stated the insecurely attached person may turn to substances as a means of emotional coping during difficulties regarding relationships. Thus not only relationships themselves may prove difficult, but attempts at self care are increased in likelihood to involved substances. Fletcher, Nutton, and Brend (2015) stated that an insecure attachment style disproportionately is found in those with substance use disorders. This point is buttressed by the fact that “People challenged with addictions demonstrate behaviors consistent with insecure attachment styles.” (Lassiter & Culbreth, 2015, p. 150).
Clark, Classen, Fourt, and Shetty (2015) discussed the resilience of trauma survivors. In situations of parental/caregiver traumatization of a child, this resilience is especially tested. Therapists who understand these challenges will better be able to establish a safe and trusting environment and strong therapeutic alliance with survivors of caregiver-inflicted trauma, and will be able to appreciate the true resilience these survivors have displayed.
References
Clark, C., Classen, C. C., Fourt, A., & Shetty, M. (2015). Treating the trauma survivor: An essential guide to trauma-informed care. New York, NY: Routledge.
Fletcher, K., Nutton, J., & Brend, D. (2015). Attachment, a matter of substance: The potential of attachment theory in the treatment of addictions. Clinical Social Work Journal, 43(1), 109-117.
Lassiter, P. S. & Culbreth, J. R. (2015). Theory and practice of addiction counseling. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
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