Trauma and deprivation: The relationship between early object relations and the constitution of a sense of self

Object relations and psychopathology among adult survivors of childhood abuse.

“…Thus, it is crucial for clinicians working with survivors of abuse to target presenting symptoms of psychopathology through a relational perspective. The absence of validating experiences during childhood causes survivors to perceive others as relating to them in punitive, judgmental, and rejecting ways (Fonagy et al, 2002; McCluskey, 2010; Zornig & Levy, 2011). Our findings suggest that therapists working with trauma survivors may have to face especially malevolent interpretations of their behavior in the form of hostile transference reactions and distrust of the therapeutic process.…”

“…Extensive research has documented a relationship between childhood abuse and a variety of long-term psychological problems, including self-harming behavior (Gratz, 2003; Gratz & Chapman, 2007), substance abuse (Briere & Elliott, 1994), poor self-esteem (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; Mullen, Martin, Anderson, Romans, & Herbison, 1996), posttraumatic stress (Hetzel & McCanne, 2005; Muller, Sicoli, & Lemieux, 2000), and a tendency toward revictimization (Van Bruggen, Runtz, & Kadlec, 2006). However, not all traumatic experiences impact individuals in the same way, and developing symptoms of psychopathology is not universal among survivors of childhood trauma (Zornig & Levy, 2011). Many researchers (Fonagy, Gergely, Jurist, & Target, 2002; Stovall & Craig, 1990; Westen, Ludolph, Block, Wixom, & Wiss, 1990) are beginning to investigate the underlying internal factors that may offer protection against the development of psychopathology or give rise to it.…”

“…For example, when children experience caregivers who are emotionally available and responsive and provide a nurturing environment, they develop a view of themselves as competent and worthy of love and, consequently, anticipate responses from others based on their sense of self-worth. In contrast, experiences such as neglect, abuse, or early separation from caregivers are thought to result in the development of negative expectations of others and a sense of self as worthless and deserving of abuse (Blizard & Bluhm, 1994; Briere & Elliott, 1994; Fonagy et al, 2002; Kealy et al, 2011; Lovett, 2007; Zornig & Levy, 2011). Childhood maltreatment is thought to be particularly damaging because children may internalize aspects of the abusive interaction and, as a result, develop maladaptive representations of self and others that influence how they come to think about and make meaning of situations that occur in their lives (Lovett, 2007; McCluskey, 2010).…”