An unwillingness to accept help and support from friends, family and potential ‘rescuers’.Here are some of the common signs, symptoms and repercussions associated with trauma bonding: Abusers often use very clever grooming tactics to slowly break down their victim, resulting in long-term psychological problems. The symptoms and repercussions of trauma bondĪs you might expect, the negative repercussions of trauma bond can be very serious and often long-term, and many victims find it difficult to overcome. It is a genuine psychological attachment which can take years to overcome.
While it can be really difficult to understand and accept why a child would develop a bond with their abuser, it’s important to remember that this is not their choice. They may also develop feelings of attachment and dependence, which are often the precursors of a trauma bond. This can lead to a cycle where they become passive to their abuse and may begin to see it as normal behaviour. So, when a child is exposed to abuse, their reaction is often to survive rather than escape. Sometimes, our brains don’t react logically to threats, focusing on short-term survival rather than long-term repercussions. According to PACE, trauma bonding happens because of how people deal with dangerous situations. Leading children’s safety charity PACE features lots of guides and resources we’d recommend. The idea that there is no escape from their abuse often leads the victim to accept their fate and begin to develop a relationship with their abuser.Abusers look to break down their relationships with close family and friends through systematic grooming and manipulation. Isolation from friends and family, leaving the victim vulnerable to their abuser’s actions.This is common in child sexual exploitation when the victim may fear physical abuse from one or more abusers. The threat of physical violence or danger from one party, which the victim believes their abuser can protect them from.Small kindnesses shared between an abuser and their victim, these could be false promises, gifts or tokens of affection.
Some of the conditions which can cause trauma bonding to occur include: Trauma bond can happen for lots of different reasons, and behaviours which most people would find shocking can lead to a bond between a victim and their abuser. In many instances, the psychological impact of trauma bond can be more harmful than the abuse itself, with children finding it difficult to come to terms with what is happening. Sometimes, they may never have experienced physical intimacy, and grooming tactics can lead them to believe that their abuser has genuine feelings for them, and that their behaviour is normal. This is because affection is one of the basic needs of childhood, and children crave the attention of those they see as dependable from an early age – even if that person is abusive, dangerous or not consistently available.Ĭhildren are perhaps most likely to develop a trauma bond when exposed to sexual exploitation and targeted grooming. While people of all ages can experience trauma bonding following a period of abuse, children and young people are perhaps most at risk. Victims can develop a deep sense of loyalty towards their abuser, which can feel like genuine love and affection. Trauma bond is the connection formed between a victim and their abuser(s), often built during long-term abuse. It’s very important foster carers are introduced to trauma bonding, so they understand the effect it can have on children and young people in their care, and what they can do themselves. Here, we look at the definition of trauma bonding, why it happens, common signs and symptoms, and ways to break the cycle of trauma bonding so children are given the best possible chance of long-term recovery. A trauma bond can develop for all sorts of reasons and can cause huge damage to a child’s health and well-being. One of the many negative effects of child sexual exploitation is trauma bonding, the deep bond which can develop between a victim and their abuser.
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