Early Childhood Trauma Essay

Child abuse in America is an ongoing problem and something needs to be done. There are approximately one million children abused annually in the United States. (Table 339) Cases of child abuse and neglect are reported every ten seconds, and researchers believe that there’s three times that amount that goes unnoticed. (Child Abuse: Know the Signs and Stop the Violence Against Children.) Something needs to be done for these children who are too weak and too powerless to help themselves.

Social theory is conceptualized through an individual’s lens, and their observations become perceived as a societal norm (Hoeve et al, 2012). If the child experiences violence, poverty, and trauma as a normal way of living; they are more likely to repeat the same behaviors (Leventhal, 2000). Combining the cognitive, social, and emotional problems associated with attachment deficiencies, children obtain symptoms related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Amatya & Barzman, 2012).

“The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act” states’ that “child abuse is the leading cause of death in children under the age of eighteen.” Child abuse occurs when adults inflict violence and cruelty upon children. Abuse is any willful act that results in physical, mental, or sexual injury that causes or is likely to cause the child to be physically, mental, or emotionally impaired. Abuse happens to children of any age, sex, race, religion, and social status.

This suggest that attachment has been at the forefront of children’s social relationships. Attachment substantially contributes to our understanding of why the experience of being physically abused might lead to the development of representations and behavioral patterns that hinder the development of peer relationships. Like Social Learning Theory regarding parental abusive models, attachment plays a major role in how abuse affects children. As such, attachment theory explores the relevance of maltreatment and physical abuse on children. The theory also concludes that children who experience abuse or neglect are likely to develop insecure and disorganized attachments, causing them to extend that same behavior to their own children. This suggests that early childhood adverse experiences influence later parenting behavior (Begle, Dumas & Hanson, 2010).

(Brian, S., Charles H., Z., & Michael, S. (2003). Exploring psychopathology in early childhood: PTSD and attachment disorders in DC: 0–3 and DSM-IV. Infant Mental Health Journal, 24(4), 398-409. )

deal with it in a way that works for them. To refer to the “Myths of

Infant attachment is the first relationship a child experiences and is crucial to the child’s survival (BOOK). A mother’s response to her child will yield either a secure bond or insecurity with the infant. Parents who respond “more sensitively and responsively to the child’s distress” establish a secure bond faster than “parents of insecure children”. (Attachment and Emotion, page 475) The quality of the attachment has “profound implications for the child’s feelings of security and capacity to form trusting relationships” (Book). Simply stated, a positive early attachment will likely yield positive physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development for the child. (BOOK)

The subject of victimization and childhood trauma and neglect, especially sexual victimization is in desperate need of additional awareness despite the increase in the research literature over the past three decades. Youth who experience any form of victimization, whether it be sexual, emotional, and/or physical throughout their childhood are known to have difficulties in their childhood and adolescent development (McCuish, Cale & Corrado, 2015). The abuse they experience can be from their caregivers, sexual victimization by acquaintances and strangers, assaults by peers and can be exposed to violence in their neighborhoods (Finkelhor, Ormrod, Turner and Holt, 2009).

The childhood of an individual can be very crucial in the formation of the child’s character, personality, and future social behavior. The early experiences a child is exposed to may impact the child in a positively or negatively manner. Children exposed to traumatic childhood experiences such as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; emotion and physical neglect; and household dysfunction such as incarcerated member of the household, domestic violence, and substance abuse; will result in criminal behavior in adolescence and/or adulthood.

Although secure attachment during infancy is the foundation for continued healthy positive development during the lifespan, it is important to understand that other factors can have a significant effect on development later in life (i.e. illness, loss, and trauma). However, research has shown the importance of consistent care giving that is responsive and nurturing and the caregivers’ ability to effectively accommodate more difficult temperament characteristics ,as well as other factors, influence the development of healthy attachment{{64 Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian 2003}}. Research has also shown that infancy and early childhood is the period of development where scaffolding begins and continues (Vygotsky, 1978; Zhao & Orey,1999).

Attachment theory hypnotizes that children internalize information, through interaction with significant others, forming a “blueprint” for a model of self and the world. Childhood abuse provides for increasingly negative models, producing less secure patterns of attachment, thereby increasing vulnerability for the development of PTSD symptoms and personality disorders. Applicants were invited to participate and were screened using maltreatment and stress questionnaires to determine if they met the criteria for physical or sexual abuse. Results were compared between positive attachment styles and fearful attachment styles to level of stress experienced in adult life, as well as to the type of abuse previously experienced. A correlation was found

This report outlines the importance of Bion’s container/contained theory and Bowlby’s attachment theory in developing secure relationships. Sadly, abused infants form a disorganised attachment style which causes them as adults to adapt maladaptive parenting skills. This leads to intergenerational transmission of maltreatment. These parents tend to use fight, flight or freeze responses to cope with their traumatic past. However in saying that, if the abused parent has been able to develop a secure attachment with another individual, or access psychotherapy, the parent can learn healthy parenting behaviours, and is able to break the cycle of intergenerational transmission of trauma being passed on to future generations.

Childhood trauma is one of the most heartbreaking situations to ever fathom happening. Childhood trauma includes neglect, maltreatment, physical and emotional abuse, and many other forms of mistreatment amongst children. Childhood trauma occurs between the ages of 0 and 6 years of age. When referencing to childhood trauma, one must take thought into who commits the abuse, who is affected by the abuse, and what long term effects can the abuse have on the victims. One must also take into consideration the sex differences when referring to childhood trauma. Numerous of studies have been conducted and many findings have been made. Prior to conducting this research paper, I only considered childhood trauma to be what it was and never considered the long term effects. Because of my assumption, I never even considered the other categories of the trauma.

The effects of IVP do not have to be permeant, if they are recognized and treated correctly, there are ways to mediate any damage that has been done. We know that that our brains are able to repair itself as long as we receive the correct treatments. We know that therapy today is able to physically impact the structure of our brains, allowing new pathways to be built, which in turn allows the brain begin to function the way is supposed to. Recognizing the symptoms of trauma as early as possible is imperative to the recovery of the traumatized person (Bedenoch, 2008, pp 27-29).

Utilizing the Child Behavior checklist (CBCL) which has been verified as a valid instrument (Cappelletty et. al., 2005), and the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) checklist, participants will be evaluated for both attachment (CBCL) and level of trauma (ACE). Participants will be identified through numbers by the agencies to maintain confidentiality. The study will assess participants through both instruments at the beginning and end of the implementation of therapy.