Childhood Psychological Abuse -- Adult Shame
Oct 6, 2012
In a recent paper by Harvey, Dorahy et al (2012) [LINK], the effects of childhood psychological maltreatment were studied using a technique called "Interpretative phenomenological analysis" Specifically, perception of self, others, and relationships were examined in adults with a history.of psychological maltreatment during childhood. Six participants from a low-cost counseling agency completed a semistructured interview. Four superordinate themes emerged: (a) shame-based perception of self, (b) self-protection from emotional pain, (c) limited awareness of others, and (d) shame-based roles in relationships. Stating the obvious in their conclusions they state: "Psychological maltreatment has pervasive and deleterious consequences for self-worth, perception of others, and interpersonal functioning." Of the research participants, only one was male; however, the results are consistent with an earlier study conducted by Dorahy and colleagues [LINK] available to read here (in pre-publication format) [LINK]
In the latter paper, a "qualitative study" "written" by Martin Dorahy, and Ken Clearwater of New Zealand's Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, Tthe experiences of shame and guilt in adult males sexually abused as children were examined. Seven participants attending a service for male sexual abuse completed measures of shame, guilt, dissociation, and childhood trauma history and subsequently participated in a focus group. All participants experienced childhood sexual abuse in the "severe" range and showed elevated scores for shame, guilt, and dissociation. Four superordinate themes with associated subordinate themes emerged: (a) self-as-shame (foundations of self-as-shame, fear of exposure, temporary antidote: connection), (b) pervasiveness and power of doubt and denial (from others, from self, consequences of incredulity), (c) uncontrollability (of problems after disclosure, of rage, of intrusions and emotional pain), and (d) dissociation. The emerging "self-as-shame" construct appeared to encapsulate participants' view of themselves.
Both of these studies demonstrate that much can be gained from "small n" studies -- it is rare for studies of male survivors to have more than 10-15 participants. The New Zealand male survivor "movement" has much to owe Martin for his work in this area. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank him for such work, and to congratulate him for his recent "'elevation" to the "rank" of Associate Professor at Otago University. The former study was written by one of Martin's students who has now gone off to other, clinical, work. Of course, Martin, a very talented academic, must be considering his future, even after his recent promotion, and will no doubt go overseas to a position of higher status and greater research opportunities -- he has already started writing papers with some of the most esteemed trauma researchers in the world. It will be sad to see him depart as New Zealand and the local mens and survivors client groups badly need local, more extensive, research to be done.