Empathy, Trauma, and the Quest for Connection
What lies beyond the ‘Why’ of Childhood Abuse?
I’m thinking about empathy, something I feel for animals and infants, even children under five, but not for anyone else. I can perform a certain amount and even believe that I feel it. But if I’m being honest with myself, I’m much better at feeling empathy from the safety of my couch as I stare at a screen. Please don’t ask me to participate.
Anne Salter, in her book Predators: Pedophiles, Rapitsts and Other Sex Offenders, quoted a forensic psychologist who said that “sexual abuse is a trauma that affects the development of the self, and the self is the seat of empathy. If you don’t have a well-developed sense of self, you can’t have a well-developed sense of empathy”. Salter argued that many sexual offenders lack empathy for their victims because they have not resolved their trauma and have distorted beliefs about themselves and others.
Most people experience life-altering trauma without turning into Ted Bundy or Richard Ramirez. But, understanding what happens to a brain that suffers the devastating impact of child abuse can help us better navigate the intricate relationship between trauma and behavior. While Anne Salter highlights the…
