У «жертв педофилии» сексуализация или «комплексы»?
В новой диссертации доказывают, якобы «жертвы педофилии» не только вырастают недосемьянинами, а и к оргазму-сексу из-за детской травмы вообще не способны.
Хотя цитируют исследования, словно «жертвы педофилии» не то вырастают проститутками, не то вообще имеют «повышенную вероятность сожительства с романтическим партнёром» по сравнению с не-«жертвами»!
[JACKSON, 2023][Gianna LaTrice JACKSON, A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF UNRESOLVED SEXUAL TRAUMA ON INTIMACY IN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN RELATIONSHIPS, A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education, LYNCHBOURG: LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, 2023]
Подобные противоречия - также в других исследованиях по теме за минувший год:
• DOI 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102387
• DOI 10.1093/jsxmed/qdad053
• DOI 10.1037/tra0001554
• DOI 10.1080/0092623X.2023.2237510
• DOI 10.1177/15248380231178754
• DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1199735
• DOI 10.1080/09540121.2023.2206099
• DOI 10.1080/10926771.2022.2142180
• DOI 10.31766/revpsij.v40n1a3
• DOI 10.1177/10775595221148425
Верь после этого во вред из-за «педофилии».
Women with a history of abuse often experience sexual dysfunction, with sexual desire and arousal issues being commonly reported as the central problem (Pulverman et al., 2018). The sympathetic nervous system, sexual self-schemas, cognitive associations with sexuality, body image, self-esteem, shame, guilt, and sympathetic nervous system activation were the mechanisms used to explain the connection between CSA and sexual dysfunction (Akeflo et al., 2021).
An essential observation was that, despite the absence of sexual abuse in the children studied, the research conducted by Colman and Widom (2004) suggested that childhood trauma had no substantial impact on the participants' likelihood of entering into marriage. However, a history of abuse did increase the likelihood of cohabitation with romantic partners (Colman & Widom, 2004). Furthermore, Colman and Widom observed that a history of abuse was associated with an increased incidence of interpersonal problems, with survivors being twice as likely to end a romantic relationship (Colman & Widom, 2004). Abused women were also significantly more likely to report infidelity and perceive their relationships as caring, helpful, and communicative compared to the control group (Colman & Widom, 2004). Additionally, the authors found that married victims of abuse and neglect had a twofold higher likelihood of experiencing divorce than individuals in the control group (Colman & Widom, 2004).
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marriages were more likely to encounter challenges when one partner concealed the trauma associated with CSA (Elliott & Briere, 1992; Anguelova, 2018, p. 16). Distrust among adult abuse survivors was one of the most common relational stressors in relationships where one partner had endured childhood abuse (Brandis, 2022). Power imbalances could further exacerbate this distrust, creating additional complexities in the relationship (Wells, 2015). Despite the detrimental impact of CSA on romantic relationships, these same relationships played a substantial role in the long-term consequences of CSA. Research indicated that survivors exhibited lower relationship satisfaction, increased relationship distress, and less stable relationships (Cherlin et al., 2004; DiLillo & Long, 1999; Kim et al., 2017). Survivors of CSA often reported symptoms such as poor psychosexual functioning, extradyadic involvement, and difficulties disclosing their prior abuse to their current romantic or marital partners (Johnson et al., 2019).
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Research indicated that psychological distress and interpersonal dysfunction tended to be more prevalent in couples where at least one spouse had a history of child sexual abuse compared to couples with no such history (Chen & Carolan, 2010; Nelson & Wampler, 2000).
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Some individuals might have struggled with uncertainty regarding whether they had experienced sexual abuse. Even when they recognized the violation, they might have erroneously perceived it as their fault, accepted the pain as normal, or considered the abuser's behavior as acceptable (Krishnan et al., 2017).
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The issue at hand revolved around survivors of CSA who, as children, were denied the ability to refuse and comprehend the sexual acts forced upon them.
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The study focused on African American women who had experienced CSA and now faced difficulties in establishing and maintaining intimate relationships.
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Sexual assault poses formidable challenges to the initiation and maintenance of intimate relationships. For those affected by CSA, fundamental aspects such as physical contact, intimacy, communication, and trust often prove difficult to establish and maintain. This is exacerbated by the reenactment of past distressing interpersonal patterns that tend to define the dynamics of their relationships. CSA survivors frequently experience a profound sense of powerlessness when confronted with sexual situations. Women who have experienced sexual abuse in childhood are more likely to engage in unrestricted sexual behavior, are at a higher risk for repeated sexual assaults, and report decreased overall sexual satisfaction in their relationships.
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According to Finkelhor and Brown's (1985) Traumagenic Dynamics Model, when teenagers are faced with negative sexual labels (stigmas) due to being a victim of CSA, these negative self-concepts get incorporated into their lives. This makes it more likely for them to develop obsessive, repetitive patterns related to specific sexual feelings.
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Adult survivors may be less adept at self-defense and more willing to tolerate victimization from others (Committee opinion no. 498: Adult manifestations of childhood sexual abuse, 2011).
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The theory that a child seeks sexual encounters, particularly if they do not report the abuse, is a common myth (Collings, 1997).
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Significant links were found between reporting CSA and a decline in socioeconomic class, increasing sexual issues, disrupting intimate relationships caused by trust issues, and a tendency to regard their partners as insensitive and overcontrolling (Murray et al., 2014; Jeglic & Calkins, 2018).
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According to Noll et al. (2003), a sexual abuse survivor may see having a child as a tool for healing and redemption. A woman may believe they can create an individual who will always love them and never hurt or abandon her.
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Sexual abuse causes interpersonal problems like distrust and insecure bonds. Instead of learning healthy, socially acceptable methods to relate to others, abused children are exposed to dysfunctional patterns of relating that can obstruct their relationships. Formerly abused persons face a significant disadvantage in developing the skills necessary to foster a healthy, meaningful romantic relationship due to their decreased capacity to understand and relate to others (Arata et al., 2005; McGuigan, 2002).
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Sexual abuse in childhood is linked to sexual functioning issues such as preoccupation with sexuality, negative attitudes toward sex, fear of intimacy, unrestrained sexual behavior, sexual dissatisfaction, and sexual maladjustment, according to Perry and DiLillo (2007). Sexual aversion and avoidance, excessive masturbation, sexual preoccupation, increased sex play, and early coitus are signs of enhanced sexuality or sexual obsession caused by CSA (Noll et al., 2003; Wohl & Kirschen, 2018). It is rare for assessments to include both promiscuity and aversion as separate operational definitions of sexuality (Noll et al., 2003). Children who had been sexually abused linked intimacy with shame and dread rather than warmth and care concerns about dominance and submission rather than mutuality, according to Feiring et al. (2009). Sexual relationship issues were common among women with a CSA history (Rellini et al., 2012). Women who had experienced a CSA were more likely to have relationship problems with their partners (Watson & Halford, 2010). Easton et al. (2010) found that women were more likely to fear sex and feel guilty during sex, making them less satisfied with sex in adulthood. Healthy intimacy requires a social and sexual exchange between adolescents of similar ages and sensitivity to and concern for the partner's well-being. Because depressive symptoms are linked to viewing people as unfriendly, rejecting, emotionally unresponsive, and dominating, they obstruct the establishment of closeness. These depressive symptoms further impact the CSA survivor's understanding of intimate touch (Wohl & Kirschen, 2018).
Sexual abuse, according to Hall & Hall (2011), impedes the development and growth of partnerships. The most typical issues are trust, fear of intimacy, fear of being different or unusual, difficulty establishing interpersonal boundaries, passive actions, and involvement in abusive relationships. The ability to acclimatize to personal relationships deteriorated as the degree and duration of sexual abuse increased (Hall & Hall, 2011). The following are the primary sexual concerns that CSA survivors face as a result of the abuse, according to Maltz (2002):
• avoiding, fearing, or being uninterested in sex
• treating sex as a chore
• having difficulties becoming aroused or feeling sensation
• feeling emotionally distant or not present during sex
• having intrusive or uncomfortable sexual thoughts and ideas
• having trouble establishing or maintaining an intimate relationship
• feeling vaginal pain or orgasmic issues (women)
• having erectile, ejaculatory, or orgasmic difficulties.
Because of the link between sexual activity, violation, and suffering, CSA can produce changes in desire, arousal, and orgasms (Committee opinion no. 498: Adult manifestations of childhood sexual abuse, 2011). Sexual abuse may predispose individuals to adult sexual dysfunction, increasing the possibility of a relationship between childhood abuse and adult sexual dysfunction (Sarwer & Durlak, 1996). They also noted that sexual penetration throughout childhood was linked to difficulties with adult sexual intimate relationships for women. Abuse by trusted adults can cause adjustment problems or damage the survivor's ability to have adult sexual relationships, mainly when the abuse involves penetration and force (Martinson et al., 2012). Penetrative abuse may make learning sexual behavior patterns connected to the sense of desire or the facilitation of orgasm more difficult for the victim (Sarwer & Durlak, 1996; Committee opinion no. 498: Adult manifestations of childhood sexual abuse, 2011; Wohl & Kirschen, 2018). The magnitude of the trauma (genital penetration/genital trauma) directly influenced marital discontent. As a result, CSA survivors are more likely to enter relationships, but they may experience worry, inhibitions, discomfort, or self-reliance (Liang et al., 2006). A study conducted by Martinson et al. (2012) found that those with a history of sexual trauma and were now diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had longer reaction times when stimulated by sexual or intimate touch or penetration in the relationship. Vaillancourt-Morel et al. (2018) argued that a partner's behavior was critical for CSA survivors. If female survivors trusted their partners, they were more likely to participate in sexual acts. Victims of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (CSA) report that diminished sexual desire, painful intercourse, and difficulty conceiving were related to CSA (West, 2002). According to research, CSA can disrupt normal psychosexual development, causing sexual function and enjoyment to manifest differently in this population (Stephenson et al., 2014). Sexual abuse can result in abnormalities in the function of the sympathetic nervous system (Hulme, 2011), which can affect sexual arousal (Lorenze et al., 2012). Furthermore, people who were physically abused as children typically have difficulties creating and maintaining healthy relationship boundaries (Alpher & France, 1993). As a result, they are more prone to engage with partners who mistreat them or have inadequate relationship boundaries.
Distress, frustration, and conflict in relationships greatly impact sexual desire, decreasing motivation for sexual closeness or withholding sex. Low sexual desire can lead to relationship dissatisfaction, validating the reciprocal nature of satisfaction and willingness to participate in an intimate situation (Girard & Woolley, 2017). In addition, negative emotional situations can lead to anxiety, exacerbating the stress cycle (Mark, 2015). The severity of the sexual abuse, the age at which the abuse began, and the child's relationship with the abuser can impact the child's sexual functioning. Physical contact, intimacy, sexuality, communication, and trust are often challenging for couples in which one person has experienced CSA, and their relationship dynamic may be characterized by reenactments of past traumatic interpersonal patterns (Nasim & Nadan, 2013). However, unlike other types of assault, violent or nonviolent, interpersonal violence, CSA combines exploitation and assault with mixed signals of affection and love (Briere, 1996).
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Sexual Behavior and Motivation
Traumatic sexualization can lead individuals to have many sexual partners or to agree to risky sexual activity to obtain affection or other rewards (Senn et al., 2017). CSA has been linked to inappropriate sexual behavior (Brown et al., 2000; Holmes, 2008; Sikkema et al., 2009; LeMieux and Byers, 2008) and hypersexuality (McCellan et al., 1996; Noll et al., 2003). Low sex drive and less sexual satisfaction have been linked to CSA for married and unmarried women later in life. Hyposexuality, a sign of female sexual interest/arousal disorder involving hypoactive sexual desire (low libido) and/or sexual aversion (fear of sex), is a frequent complaint among women, particularly victims of CSA, according to the self-reported data (Senn et al., 2017). CAS victims feel powerless in sexual situations where they cannot refuse sex (Senn et al., 2017). CSA causes victims to develop out-of-control sexual behavior that places them at risk for repeated sexual abuse as adults (Skegg et al., 2009). Childhood sexual abuse significantly impacts CSA adult victims' risky sexual behaviors and the quality and quantity of their intimate relationships (Testa et al., 2005). Risky behaviors associated with CSA include earlier age of first intercourse, a more significant number of sexual partners, and trading sex for money or drugs (Senn et al., 2012).
Socially and economically disadvantaged women who experience CSA have higher rates of sexually risky behavior (Senn et al., 2012). In a study conducted by Noll et al. (2003), the participants who had been sexually assaulted expressed greater sexual preoccupation than those who had not been sexually abused. Even when past psychological concerns such as depression, anxiety, dissociation, and sexual behavior disorders were managed, there were issues with sexual urges. Negative memories and feelings connected with traumatic sexualization impact sexual arousal, and sexual aversion patterns emerge. There may be a strong repugnance towards sexual beliefs, feelings, and situations that remind the individual of their abusive relationship (Noll et al., 2003; Martinson et al., 2012; Milojevich & Veitch Wolfe, 2020). Disgust, embarrassment, shame, and low self-esteem are all symptoms of sexual aversion (Noll et al., 2003; Milojevich & Veitch Wolfe, 2020). The compounded humiliation associated with abuse may result in overgeneralizing the abusive experience toward other potential sexual encounters and a general aversion or avoidance of sexual ideas, feelings, and situations (Murray et al., 2014).
CSA victims' risky sexual behavior can lead to significantly higher STI rates, impacting the quality of their intimate relationships (Testa et al., 2005). Adult survivors of CSA tend to display inappropriate sexualized behaviors (Martinson et al., 2012). Women who have experienced CSA are more likely to participate in unrestricted sexual behavior and are at greater risk of repeated sexual assault, especially during their adolescent years (Niehaus et al., 2010).
Lamoureux et al. (2012) linked adverse intimate relationship outcomes, including decreased satisfaction in romantic relationships, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault in adulthood, to CSA. In addition, women who have experienced sexual abuse are more likely to exhibit risky sexual and suicidal behaviors. (Hahm et al., 2009). Compared to nonabused women, women with a history of CSA have lesser associations involving sexual impairment and subjective sexual distress (Stephenson et al., 2014). Those who had been abused showed higher levels of psychological discomfort and lower levels of sexual adjustment, according to Bhandari et al. (2011).
In a 30-year longitudinal study conducted by Fergusson et al. (2013), adults aged 18-30 who experienced a CSA had greater chances of developing mental health issues and higher rates of sexual risk-taking behaviors than those with no history of CSA. Findings showed that sexual avoidance and compulsiveness are not mutually exclusive. Both symptoms may co-occur within CSA survivors and help explain couple dissatisfaction and lower couple adjustment. CSA survivor symptoms of sexual inhibitions and compulsiveness may coexist and create sexually ambivalent attitudes and behaviors (Vaillancourt-Morel et al., 2015). Fleming et al. (1999) determined that CSA affects a woman's ability to maintain intimate relationships by interfering with her capacity to develop her own sexuality and trust in others. They also noted that CSA victims lack concern, are intrusive, and are over-controlling with their partners. Sexually abused women are more prone to relationships with emotionally detached and domineering partners because low self-esteem and reduced initiative limit their choices or some neurotic compulsion to repeat behaviors (Fleming et al., 1999). CSA and adult sexual assault (ASA) are associated with an increase in lifetime sexual partners. Sexual attitudes and ethnicity affect the number of sexual partners someone might have over their lifespan (Rinehart et al., 2014).
Ullman & Lorenz (2020) noted that those with early sexual abuse by close, trusted family members might have difficulty setting boundaries in later relationships, especially sexual boundaries with men. Because they have difficulties with boundaries, they do not understand what is normal or abnormal in relationships. The inability to disclose the abuse to others places them at risk for future revictimization, and they often struggle with shame and feelings regarding their sexuality. Victimized AA women (CSA) perceive less control over their sexuality (West, 2002). African American women (CSA victims) fear a violent response from their partners, so they, most of the time, do not practice safe sex (use of condoms) (West, 2002). African American CSA survivors often engage in risky behaviors such as prostitution, anal sex, group sex, partner swapping, and sex with non-monogamous partners. African American women indicated more liberal sexual attitudes with more severe victimization histories linked to less effective reactions to dangerous situations (Nason & Yeater, 2012). According to Dodd and Littleton (2017), low-income reproductive-aged women with a history of sexual victimization are more likely to participate in serial or simultaneous sexual relationships rather than one-night stands. CSA survivors were more likely than nonabused women to have initiated consensual sex before they were 16, separated from their husbands, and reported lower overall relationship sexual satisfaction (Watson & Halford, 2010).
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Sexual abuse can psychologically impact a woman's sense of trust and safety in a relationship (Stephenson et al., 2014). According to Larsen et al. (2011), CSA was linked to an impaired ability to trust others, a sense of detachment from others, and difficulty building safe bonds. Women who were sexually assaulted as children may have difficulties identifying who is trustworthy or may have a low threshold for deciding who can or cannot be trusted (Senn et al., 2012).
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CSA has been recognized as an attachment trauma (Karakurt & Silver, 2013) and is consistently linked to reduced sexual functioning and satisfaction (Burns Loeb et al., 2002; Pulverman et al., 2018). Liang et al. (2006) discovered that maternal attachment acted as a buffer in the association between the intensity of trauma and interpersonal issues. Adult women's attachment styles are negatively affected by CSA (Dimitrova et al., 2009). As an adult, one of the most prevalent clinical manifestations of CSA is the development of insecure attachment (Sullivan et al., 2020). The severity of the negative association between attachment security and self-reporting depression was more significant in married and cohabiting heterosexual women with a history of CSA than in individuals with no history of CSA. Aspelmeier et al. (2007) hypothesized that attachment security is linked to the psychological effects seen in people who have experienced CSA. This type of attachment may substantially impact how well attachment security within the relationship guards against the adverse effects of CSA. In close adult, parent-child, and peer relationships, a history of CSA is consistently linked to significantly higher levels of traumarelated symptoms and lower levels of attachment security (Aspelmeier et al., 2007). As children begin to comprehend the abuse, they realize that people are not trustworthy, reliable, or honest, making attachment a risk they are unwilling to take (Alexandrov et al., 2005). According to Ensink et al. (2020), CSA victims were more likely to have an insecure and disorganized attachment with all types of relationships. An insecure attachment was also linked to higher selfreported depressive symptoms in all children, while CSA was linked to more parent-reported child externalizing difficulties, sexualizing problems, and dissociation (Ensink et al., 2020).
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Their difficulties in comprehending verbal cues and misinterpreting intentions often resulted in conflicts and a continuous state of hypervigilance. The interplay of past trauma and communication barriers led to the survivor's inability to overcome these challenges.
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the survivors' past experiences of childhood sexual abuse had led to a deep-rooted belief that they were undeserving of love and affection. Consequently, these feelings of unworthiness contributed to decreased sexual desire and a tendency to avoid both sexual and nonsexual intimacy with their partners.
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Previous research by Smith et al. (2018) emphasized how survivors often experience profound emotional burdens, leading to isolation, hopelessness, and unhappiness. These emotions reflect the emotional detachment uncovered in this study. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2017) explored the relationship dissatisfaction experienced by survivors, highlighting the challenge of building and maintaining intimate partnerships, consistent with the "Dissatisfaction within the Relationship" theme. Additionally, the information processing model, as proposed by Foa and Kozak (1986), helps illuminate how survivors' experiences are processed and integrated into their worldviews. This model supports the findings by indicating that traumatic experiences can lead to distorted information processing, such as the misinterpretation of social interactions. Survivors may perceive neutral or positive cues as threatening, contributing to their emotional detachment and hypervigilance.
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The emotional detachment experienced by survivors aligns with research conducted by Williams and Davis (2016), which discussed the significant loss of trust and connection that often results from childhood sexual abuse. Survivors in the current study shared their stories of isolation, echoing previous findings by Adams et al. (2019), which described how survivors may feel disconnected and alienated in their relationships. Their dissatisfaction within relationships also corresponds with the work of Martinez and Garcia (2020), who highlighted the challenges survivors face in establishing healthy and fulfilling partnerships, given their histories. Attachment theory, as proposed by Bowlby (1969), adds another layer of understanding to the emotional detachment experienced by survivors. According to this theory, survivors may have developed insecure attachment styles as a result of early traumatic experiences, leading to difficulties in forming secure attachments in adulthood. This aligns with the findings and the challenges survivors face in intimate relationships. The alignment between Attachment theory, as proposed by Bowlby (1969), and the emotional detachment experienced by survivors is evident. According to this theory, survivors may have developed insecure attachment styles as a result of early traumatic experiences, which can lead to difficulties in forming secure attachments in adulthood. This alignment is consistent with the findings of this study and the challenges that survivors commonly encounter in their intimate relationships.
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As revealed in the study, the misinterpretation of social interactions is consistent with the findings of Lee et al. (2018), who detailed the challenges survivors face in effective communication. The participants' difficulties in interpreting verbal cues align with research by Brown and White (2017), who emphasized the potential for survivors to misunderstand the intentions and motivations of their partners, ultimately resulting in conflicts.
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feelings of unworthiness led to decreased sexual desire and avoidance of both sexual and nonsexual intimacy with their partners, and all of the participants expressed this. The pervasive sense of unworthiness manifested in reduced sexual desire and a tendency to avoid both sexual and nonsexual intimacy with their partners. While all participants shared this sentiment, it was particularly noteworthy that five out of the 11 (45.5%) participants reported experiencing this feeling consistently.
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Significant contributions from Ainsworth (1978) and Hazan and Shaver (1987) make attachment theory a valuable framework for exploring these themes from a robust research perspective. Survivors' perceptions of intimacy as dangerous may be linked to their attachmentrelated fears and anxiety, especially if they have developed anxious-ambivalent attachment styles. These attachment patterns may contribute to their emotional detachment and difficulty forming secure relationships. Feelings of unworthiness can also be associated with attachment theory, as survivors may internalize negative self-beliefs about their lovability and desirability in a romantic context. The perception that intimacy is considered dangerous by survivors corresponds with research conducted by Miller and Young (2019), which explored how survivors often struggle to let down their emotional guard in relationships. Additionally, findings from Hall and Garcia (2017) align with my results, as they detailed how past experiences of abuse can lead to feelings of unworthiness and hinder emotional and sexual intimacy.
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Romantic Attachment Theory, which builds upon the development, maintenance, and breakdown of relationships beyond childhood, employs attachment theory as its foundation to elucidate how trauma can impact intimate relationships (Fraley & Shaver, 2000). This theory provides valuable insights into the observed themes. Survivors' perceptions of intimacy as dangerous may be linked to their attachment-related fears and anxiety, especially if they have developed anxious-ambivalent attachment styles. These attachment patterns may contribute to their emotional detachment and difficulty forming secure relationships. Feelings of unworthiness can also be associated with attachment theory, as survivors may internalize negative self-beliefs about their lovability and desirability in a romantic context. The female's challenges with both sexual and nonsexual intimacy can be linked to her struggles in receiving or accepting intimate touch, stemming from unresolved childhood sexual abuse. This aligns with Romantic Attachment Theory's emphasis on how early traumatic experiences can impact individuals' ability to form secure and healthy intimate relationships beyond childhood. Such challenges in forming secure relationships and feelings of unworthiness are consistent with the attachment patterns described within the framework of attachment theory, further strengthening the connections between trauma, attachment, and survivors' experiences of emotional detachment and difficulties in intimate relationships.
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The study illuminated the persistent psychological and emotional challenges these survivors face despite employing various coping mechanisms. It emphasized the crucial role of empathy, understanding, and robust support systems in assisting survivors on their path toward healing and recovery, shedding light on the source of their feelings of being irrevocably flawed. Among these challenges, survivors often struggle with a profound fear of intimacy, making it difficult to engage fully in their relationships. Additionally, they frequently battle with self-esteem issues, which can manifest as self-doubt and a sense of unworthiness, contributing to their feelings of being irrevocably flawed and making it challenging to accept love and support from their partners. Furthermore, unresolved trauma can lead to difficulty in communicating their needs and boundaries effectively, hindering the establishment of healthy relationship dynamics. The persistent psychological and emotional challenges faced by survivors align with a study by Robinson and Clark (2020), which examined the long-term impacts of childhood sexual abuse. They found that survivors often experience ongoing emotional distress. The study's emphasis on the role of empathy, understanding, and support systems is reinforced by work conducted by Adams and Johnson (2018), who emphasized that these factors are critical for survivors on their path to healing.
Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome, as proposed by Summit (1983), further elucidates the experiences of survivors within long-term relationships. This syndrome suggests that survivors often go through a process of accommodation, secrecy, delayed disclosure, and retraction in response to their abuse. These behaviors can influence the survivors' emotional well-being and relationships. The current study aligns with this framework by highlighting the psychological challenges faced by survivors, which can be understood within the context of accommodation and secrecy. They tend to exhibit avoidance of intimacy, both physical and emotional, as a protective mechanism. This avoidance extends to their sexual experiences, with a notable percentage (45.45%) agreeing or strongly agreeing that they engaged in sexual activities with their partners even when they were not in the mood, primarily to fulfill their partner's desires.
Additionally, a majority (63.64%) acknowledged participating in sexual activities when they were not in the mood. Furthermore, a significant portion of participants (36.36% strongly agreed, with 27.27% agreeing or slightly agreeing) sometimes wished their partner would leave them alone sexually (Appendix R, "Sexual Conflicts"). These challenges, such as avoidance of intimacy and difficulties in sexual communication, are indeed psychological in nature and can be seen as ways survivors accommodate and adapt to the lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse.
In addition to intimacy issues, communication difficulties are prevalent among survivors of childhood sexual abuse. A considerable proportion (54%) of participants expressed difficulty in expressing their sexual desires to their partners (Appendix R, "Sexual Conflicts"). These survivors encounter obstacles in openly conveying their feelings, setting boundaries, and effectively communicating their emotions, frequently resulting in misunderstandings and conflicts within their relationships. These challenges underscore the lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse on their ability to establish healthy and fulfilling connections with their partners within the framework of accommodation and secrecy.
a phenomenological study of the effects of unresolved sexual trauma on intimacy in african american women relationships
childhood sexual abuse (csa) has multifaceted effects on survivors. the psychological distress stemming from csa often leads to the development of abnormal cognitions and behaviors that persist throughout a survivor's lifetime. while substantial research has focused on the long-term consequences for women who have experienced childhood sexual assault, there is still a need to explore the experiences of african american (aa) women who have encountered csa and how it shapes their ability to engage in intimate sexual relationships. this phenomenological study aims to investigate the lived experiences of aa women who have endured csa, with a particular focus on the impact on their capacity for intimate relationships, trust, and communication within those relationships. by examining the personal stories of these survivors, this research endeavors to enhance our comprehension of the unique relational behaviors associated with childhood sexual assault.
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