Effects of Childhood Trauma on Children Development Research Paper

In today’s changing world, childhood trauma is becoming increasingly easier to understand, as well as increasingly distinguished in society as technology and communications advance. Childhood trauma can be caused by a multitude of events, such as the death of a loved one, bullying, or trouble in a household. One of the most influential figures in a child’s life is a parent or caregiver, and when there is dysfunction present, many harmful effects could begin to show themselves. Such dysfunction could range from domestic violence to physical and emotional abuse, which can have adverse effects on a child’s development and wellbeing. Many children who experience these acts of violence are subject to mental disorders of all kinds and often try to seek out defense mechanisms in a way to protect themselves. One of these ways includes removing oneself from the world around them in an act of dissociating from the world, which can lead to many different types of dissociative disorders. When children experience trauma that stems from abuse, the likelihood of developing a dissociative disorder is increased. 

The technical definition of abuse is treating a person with cruelty or violence repeatedly, but there are many other ways that abuse can take shape. There is physical abuse, which is an intentional act that causes injury to another person by way of bodily contact. There is also emotional abuse, which is when there is a pattern of behavior in which a perpetrator insults, humiliates, and generally instills fear in an individual repeatedly. In addition, there is also mental abuse which is constant self-depreciation and abuse to oneself. Abuse has been shown to have many abhorrent effects on the people who experience it. The Center for Addiction and Mental Health says that in general, “Abuse-related trauma can develop after a person has been hurt and/or neglected, usually in childhood” (“Effects of Abuse-Related Trauma”). In childhood, the effects of abuse are likely to be stronger because they do not understand what is happening to them. However, their body may be conditioned to recognize the danger, which they then remember and recognize as trauma later in life. No matter what abuse someone experiences, they are likely to develop trauma as a result and are often set off by triggers that remind them of what they experienced. In addition to simply developing trauma, the Office on Women’s Health (OASH) says, “Experiencing abuse or other trauma puts people at risk of developing mental health conditions” (“Abuse, trauma, and mental health”). Traumatic events can change the way a person’s body and mind operate, subjecting them to altered emotions, memories, and thinking patterns. These altered states could lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and low self-esteem, and can translate into lifelong consequences.  OASH also states that while a majority of the people who experience abuse are subject to risks of mental health issues, “Children who witness domestic violence or are victims of abuse themselves are at serious risk for long-term physical and mental health problems” (“Effects of domestic violence on children”) as well. As stated previously, experiencing abuse increases the risk of developing a mental disorder. When looking at children, it is quite the same. While children may not necessarily comprehend what is happening when they are being abused, it sticks with them and develops into trauma as they get older. This trauma could cause someone to develop the inability to trust or fall into depressive states. All in all, children who are abused have a higher chance of developing mental health issues because of the abuse they experienced as a result of the trauma that accompanied it.  

With the increased risk of developing mental disorders comes the increased risk of developing a dissociative disorder. These dissociative disorders deal with detaching oneself from reality and are very uncommon. A person suffering from a dissociative disorder will regularly act differently and express a wide range of emotions. Dissociative disorders are widely misunderstood and an article on PubMed.gov says, “Many [dissociative disorder] symptoms and behaviors are misdiagnosed as attention, learning or conduct problems or even psychoses” (Putnam). Since dissociative disorders are not the most common mental illness, they are often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Many children who experience the symptoms are often written off as having learning deficit disorders or behavioral issues due to the constant daydreaming or dissociating from the world around them, as well as the behavior changes. The American Psychiatric Association says that similar to a daydream, “People with dissociative identity disorder may feel that they have suddenly become observers of their own speech and actions, or their bodies may feel different” (Wang). When daydreaming, children often space out and the things around them are drowned out, which is typical for dissociation. Although daydreaming is a symptom of dissociative disorders, the difference is that while daydreaming, you are not viewing yourself in your state right now. When someone dissociates, they often feel as if they have the ability to perceive themselves and their actions as a foreign figure, such as a ghost floating around them. Those who associate become hyper-aware of everything around them, despite being disconnected from everything. Robert T. Muller says that children often do this because “Separating mind from physical experience provides a sense of protection” (Muller). When a child is abused or has experienced a traumatic event, dissociating and disconnecting from the world around them can be a defense mechanism they use to keep themselves safe. The stressors they experience can be blocked out by their sense of dissociation, and therefore they use it in a way to protect themselves from the terrible things they encounter. These dissociative disorders involve challenges with memory, emotion, behavior, and sense of self. When dissociating, people believe they can disconnect themselves from the pain they feel.

The effects of abuse on children have detrimental effects on their mental health and well-being, which can eventually lead to dissociative disorders. The Association for Marriage and Family Therapy claims that when children continually dissociate as a result of the trauma they have experienced, “[it] may become a defensive pattern that persists into adulthood and can result in a full-fledged dissociative disorder” (“Dissociative Identity Disorder”). This routine of dissociating can become a comfort for children and they may continue it to feel safe. Constantly dissociating from reality will eventually turn into a pattern that, if continued, could develop into a dissociative disorder. As mentioned before, the act of dissociating can provide a sense of protection for a child and Esther Giller, president of the Sidran Institute explains, “When faced with overwhelmingly traumatic situations from which there is no physical escape, a child may resort to “going away” in his or her head” (Giller). This defense mechanism of escaping to his or her head can increase the likelihood of a dissociative disorder because it offers a retreat for the child that they normally would not have access to. This escape can make a child feel safe and can cause the child to continue to use it as a coping mechanism for the abuse they have experienced or seen. The Mayo Clinic conveys that personal identity is still forming during childhood so, “a child is more able than an adult to step outside of himself or herself and observe trauma as though it's happening to a different person” (Mayo Clinic). Given that it is easier for children to dissociate from society, they may do it more often. The easy approach to dissociation combined with the fact that it brings a child comfort may increase the likelihood of that child developing a dissociative disorder. Abuse causes trauma that may lead children to search for defense mechanisms that bring them comfort and protection. When dissociating becomes a pattern due to the fact that it is easy and accessible to a child, as well as an escape from the world around them, children are more likely to develop a dissociative disorder. 

Children will resort to dissociative tactics to isolate themselves from their exhaustive awareness of traumatic events. In doing so, they open up a world of tranquility in which they can feel sheltered. If these traits are repeated often enough and continued throughout adolescence as their primary coping mechanism, most children will have an increased risk of dissociative disorder.