Did you know that dissociation, a defensive response to childhood trauma can be a major mechanism for transmission of violence from one generation to the next? a research study on women who had been abused as children found that women who abused their own children had significantly higher dissociation scores than women who did not abuse their children despite being abused themselves.
I argue that offenders of violence are often adult survivors of childhood trauma who cope with emotional distress by externalizing, being angry and using aggression. these individuals survived their abusive, neglectful and dysfunctional childhoods by detaching from others and dismissing their feelings thereby trying to suppress an inborn need and drive for attachment.
I hope that others will see the importance of looking at the batterers as adult survivors of childhood trauma. Not as a justification or excuse for the violence but for understanding and intervention.
I would appreciate any replies. Linda Nauth.