Sexual Abuse On Shame And Adult Relationship

Avoidant behavior among victims of sexual abuse may be understood as attempts to cope with the chronic trauma. Among the dysfunctional activities associated with avoidance of abuse-specific memories and feelings are dissociation, substance abuse and various tension-reducing activities. Unfortunately, although sometimes immediately effective in reducing distress, avoidance and self-destructive methods of coping with child abuse experiences may lead ultimately to higher levels of lower self-esteem and greater feelings of guilt and anger.

Ira L. Reiss, a well-known sociologist, has contributed greatly to the field of human sexuality and in the 1960’s brilliantly predicted the revolutionary changes in sexual attitudes. In his novel, An End to Shame: Shaping Our Next Sexual Revolution, Reiss develops the notion that our previous sexual revolution did not adequately eliminate the inequalities related to sexuality. In reality he argues that America is in need of a newly formed sexual revolution, one that will address the negative consequences that our sex negative culture is experiencing. A significant portion of our population argues that these consequences are due to the fact that we talk too much and too soon about sex. This is an inaccurate view of the reasoning behind the sexual problems we are experiencing in America, as in reality the negative sexual outcomes we observe are due to the opposite of this view. This misconception is a common explanation for our sexual problems and many believe it is the key to solving our sexual crisis, but in reality is part of the problem. Reiss argues that “America is long overdue for a rendezvous with sexual reality” (18) and that the future of our nation depends on accepting these realities.

Comaz-Diaz (1995), suggests that value that is placed on girl’s virginity, the shame of the victim, and cultural silence against discussing sexual matters are family values that are invoked to prevent disclosure on sexual assault. Incomplete or inappropriate sexuality socialization in childhood may affect one’s ability to identify abuse and as a consequence delay or hinder the disclosure of sexual abuse in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

This research is aimed at providing knowledge of coping skills for victims of early sexual abuse. Poor coping skills, such as avoidance has been demonstrated to exacerbate the impact of childhood trauma on psychological distress (Wang et al, 2010). Victims of early sexual abuse tend to use acceptance and avoidance as ways to cope with trauma. Child sexual abuse has consistently been associated with the use of avoidant coping which have been associated with increased trauma symptoms, which have, in turn, been linked to increased risk for adult sexual

Feiring, Simon, and Cleland (2009) concluded that stigmatization rather than abuse severity is a predictive of sexual dysfunction for this population. Stigmatization refers to “shame and a self-blaming attributional style” (p.128). Shame involves a wish to hide the damaged self certain others. Being exposed for survivors would be experienced as a social taboo. Self-blame refers to a perception that some parts of self were responsible for the abuse. Perpetuating of self-blame occurs through the secret survivors keep in a response to threats from their abuser and/or social and legal expectations. These challenging emotional experiences occur following the violation and last for years. Severity of abuse is associated with an increased stigmatization. Abuse specific stigmatization influences survivors’ perception and experience of non-abusive relationships and consensual sex. Stigmatization disrupts development of a healthy self-concept as a sexual being as well as intimate relationship with others (Feiring, Simon, & Cleland, 2009).

As many as one in three females have experienced sexual abuse by the age of 18 (Russell, 1986). Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experience negative psychological symptoms (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; Kendall-Tackett, Williams, L. M., & Finkelhor, 1993). These women may later in life engage in relationships. The negative impact of sexual abuse could result in challenges faced by the relationship due to shame and difficulty with trust (Kochka & Carolan, 2002; MacIntosh & Johnson, 2008). CSA may also result in sexual challenges for the couple (Kochka & Carolan, 2002). Research has found that couples therapy can be of significance to the healing of the CSA survivor as well as functioning and growth in the relationship (Kochka &

The study hypothesize that CSA survivors would have difficulty forming secure, intimate, nonabusive relationships and that CSA survivors are at risk for depression in low quality intimate relationships. Despite the overall quality of their intimate relationships, those that were severely abused reported feeling more anxious about their attachment to their partners (Aube, Judd & Whiffen, 1999). The partner that had a history of sexual abuse reported feeling unloved and abandoned by their partner but at the same time they felt like they could depend on them when they needed them. In adult attachment theory, this states that the survivor is experiencing an anxious attachment style. A limitation of this study was that they sampled women that were

It is, however, frequently a complication that occurs alongside the presenting problem. Because shame is almost never the only problem, it is important that therapists know how to work with it in the context of other problems; therapists need a way of dealing with their clients’ shame and addressing related disorders at the same time. They must be able to find ways to decrease the immediate negative reactions of shame during therapy. Such reactions of shame include wanting to run away, hide, or withdraw (Fable, 1999), which may defeat therapy before it begins.

Shame is rarely—if ever—the presenting problem for clients entering therapy. It is, however, frequently a complication that occurs alongside the presenting problem. Because shame is almost never the only problem, it is important that therapists know how to work with it in the context of other problems; therapists need a way of dealing with their clients’ shame and addressing related disorders at the same time. They must be able to find ways to decrease the immediate negative reactions of shame during therapy. Such reactions of shame include wanting to run away, hide, or withdraw (Fable, 1999), which may defeat therapy before it begins.

These schemas, such as abuse is a way of showing love or connecting with someone, may influence and motivate adult interpersonal behavior, thereby increasing the likelihood of subsequent victimization or perpetration of abuse (Cloitre, Cohen, & Scarvalone, 2002). Revictimization, including intimate partner violence, and perpetration, such as abusing one’s child, are well documented among survivors of childhood abuse, and each has consistently been found as a significant correlate of child abuse history (Rodriguez et al.,

Two of the consequences of sexual abuse that interest me the most is posttraumatic stress disorder and repressed memory. PTSD is known as an anxiety disorder that occurs in response to experiencing extreme stress (McCoy & Keen, 2014). The rates of PTSD vary among the type of sexual abuse that has occurred (McCoy & Keen, 2014). Victims of sexual abuse usually have to deal with PTSD. They have flashbacks of the terrible indicants, could happen randomly or be triggered by anything. Since the triggers could happen any time, it could prevent the person from prevent the person from being able to move on, which could stop them from living a successful and happy life. Another consequence of sexual abuse is repressed memory. Repressed memory is when the brain forces unacceptable thoughts, desires or memories into the unconscious (McCoy & Keen, 2014). This is done so the brain can protect itself. It takes a lot of energy for the brain to hide these memories and they can reappear caused by a trigger (McCoy & Keen, 2014). It makes

Brown (2006) examined the empirical foundations for shame resilience theory (SRT) that offer the definition of shame and a conceptual identity for shame. This SRT describes the concerns of women experiencing shame of which she identified the strategies and processes of how vulnerable women develop shame resilience. She identified the various processes and strategies women use to develop shame resilience. In this article Brown described theoretically, the understanding of vulnerability, critical awareness and mutually empathetic relationships, including the concept of “speaking shame.” Brown also explored the practiced implications including the importance of psychoeducational group work. From the results of research, she defined shame as “an intensely painful feeling or experience of believing we are flawed and therefore unworthy of acceptance and belonging.”

Across studies it is shown that any form of CSA is strongly associated with major depression and PTSD (Chen et al., 2014). In one study conducted by Lev-Wiesel and Markus (2011), researchers administered the childhood sexual assaults scale to 225 female participants. This particular scale includes questions related to coercion and the type of sexual assault experienced. The results of this study showed that when individuals were coerced into intercourse, the levels of depression and post-traumatic stress symptomology were higher than when the intercourse was not coerced (Lev-Wiesel & Markus, 2011). Moreover, individuals whose abuse involved actual or attempted intercourse had more symptoms of PTSD than individuals who experienced other forms

There is evidence that proves that childhood sexual abuse has a prolonged effect on the personality and behavior of young adults (Van Reedt Dortland et al, 2012). However, studies are limited in testing whether specific personality traits have an effect on the lasting trauma of a victim. Retrospective estimates indicate that 12–54% of women and 4–15% of men experienced sexual abuse during childhood or adolescence (Czincz, 2013). Therapist attempt to assess every victim with the same general assessments which lead to issues later in life. With special attention given to those high in specific personality traits and knowing the general average level of coping with certain areas of emphasis, therapist could better assess and treat patients. Issues arise when therapist attempt to assess every victim with the same general assessments.

More than 24 million people of the United States of America are victims of relationship abuse in a given year. Women are not the only sufferers because it happens to men too. Stoprelationshipabuse.org defines relationship abuse as “a pattern of abusive and coercive behaviors used to maintain power and control over a former or current intimate partner.” Sources say that it can stem from childhood experiences or caused by alcohol. Facts and myths cloud the subject and create misinterpretations on the causes. Either of these can create detrimental effects to the victims. Abuse is a choice that can be influenced by outside factors.