NOTA Ireland Understanding the trauma to the victim: How victim information can assist in the assessment of deviancy Marcella Leonard

Childhood Trauma Definition: ‘ mental result of one sudden, external blow or a series of blows, rendering the young person temporarily helpless and breaking past ordinary coping and defensive operations.’ Includes conditions marked by intense surprise but also Those marked by prolonged and sickening anticipation. Terr NOTA Ireland 2014

Childhood Trauma External forces create the internal changes In the first place. Childhood trauma originates from the outside 3NOTA Ireland 2014

Childhood Trauma Clinical manifestations of trauma in the life of a traumatised child could diagnose: Borderline disorder Attention deficit hyperactivity Phobic disorder Obsessive compulsive disorder Panic disorder Dissociative disorder Adjustment disorder 4NOTA Ireland 2014

Childhood Trauma 4 main characteristics of the traumatized Child: Strongly visualised or otherwise repeatedly perceived memories Repetitive behaviours Trauma Specific Fears Changed Attitudes about people, aspects of life and the future 5NOTA Ireland 2014

Childhood Trauma 1.Strongly visualised or otherwise repeatedly perceived memories Can be stimulated by reminders of the traumatic Event – tactile, positions or smell but occasionally They can appear entirely unbidden. Children tend to see them in their leisure but adults can often Have sudden flashbacks. 6NOTA Ireland 2014

Childhood Trauma 2. Repetitive Behaviours Play and behavioural re-enactments can become Part of the persons personality so much so that you Could lose sight of their origins. 7NOTA Ireland 2014

Childhood Trauma 3. Trauma specific fears Most extremely stressed or traumatised children Continue to harbour one or two trauma related Fears well into adulthood. Fears are more specific than those of non traumatised children. 8NOTA Ireland 2014

Childhood Trauma 4. Changed attitudes about people, aspects of life and the future. The limitation of future perspective is striking in traumatised children because non-traumatised children exhibit almost limitless ideas about the future. Limitations in scope and future perspective in childhood trauma victims often reflects the ongoing belief that more traumas are bound to follow. 9NOTA Ireland 2014

Effects of long standing exposure to extreme external events The first such event creates surprise but the subsequent Unfolding of horrors creates a sense of anticipation. Massive attempts to protect the psyche and to preserve Self are put into gear: massive denial aggression against self dissociation self anaesthesia self hypnosis identification with the offender 10NOTA Ireland 2014

Childhood Trauma Traumatised children may: Avoid talking about self Try very hard to look normal May tell their stories, then deny them Forget segments of childhood Develop an indifference to pain Lack empathy Failure to define / acknowledge feelings Avoidance of psychological intimacy 11NOTA Ireland 2014

Childhood Trauma Within the traumatised child emotions are all Stirred up: An absence of feeling Sense of rage Unremitting sadness Exist alongside fear 12NOTA Ireland 2014

Victim of Abusive Photography Touching self and others Wearing adult sexual clothing Being directed ‘ And smile ’ 13NOTA Ireland 2014

Lack of control over photograph Digitally enhanced / adjusted Who can see it It doesn ’ t tell whole story That someone is doing something sexual to the image 14NOTA Ireland 2014

Challenges for recovery: Image never deleted No control Self blame Unable to confront all perpetrators known as an image abuse continues unlike contact offending but don ’ t know who are the offenders 15NOTA Ireland 2014

So what do victims tell us which could assist In the assessment of deviancy? 16NOTA Ireland 2014

3 Components of sexual desire: 1.Drive 2.Beliefs and values 3.Motivation 17Leonard Consultancy - ARMS Pilot June14

length of time existence of paraphilia degree of arousal ability to perform verbal v behaviour sexual behaviour emotional reaction 18NOTA Ireland 2014

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