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Key points
- Childhood trauma adaptations develop as coping mechanisms that help children deal with painful experiences.
- They can be behavioral or cognitive adaptations—thoughts or behaviors that form as survival strategies.
- Discerning helpful versus harmful childhood adaptations is key and can lead to positive change.
In this three-part series, we'll explore what common childhood trauma adaptations are, why and how they can be like superpowers (not only when we’re children but also as adults), why and how these adaptations can also be like proverbial kryptonite, how to discern the difference, and what to do if we’re aware that our childhood trauma adaptations have become kryptonite in our adult lives.
Childhood trauma adaptations are an attempt to cope
Childhood trauma has the potential to negatively shape a child's development.
Experiences of trauma, such as abuse or neglect, disrupt normal developmental trajectories, forcing children to develop coping mechanisms that help them cope with painful experiences. These attempts are essentially survival strategies.
These attempts fall into two buckets: cognitive and behavioral adaptations (meaning the thoughts and behaviors that form as survival attempts).
Cognitive adaptations involve changes in perception, belief systems, and thought processes, which aim to protect the child from emotional pain or to rationalize or make sense of their experiences. Behavioral adaptations are actions or reactions the child develops to avoid harm, manage stress, or navigate complex social environments (at home, school, church, etc).
Let’s explore some common childhood trauma cognitive and behavioral adaptations so you can, perhaps, begin to see yourself and your personal history more clearly.
Common childhood trauma cognitive and behavioral adaptations
Hyper-vigilance
Characterized by an “always-on alertness” to danger (be it real or perceived), this adaptation stems from the body's fight-or-flight response, which becomes heightened in those of us who’ve experienced trauma. The cognitive belief that danger is omnipresent, prompts behaviors constantly scanning for threats, leading to chronic stress and anxiety.
- Cognitive Example: "I need to be aware of everything around me at all times. Any small sound could mean danger."
- Behavioral Example: Constantly scanning rooms for exits or threats, jumping at noises or movements. This heightened state of alertness is a direct response to fearing unseen dangers.
People-pleasing
Rooted in attachment theory (which suggests early relationships with caregivers help shape an individual's beliefs about self and others), in environments characterized by abuse or neglect, children might learn to prioritize others' needs over their own, believing their safety and worth are contingent upon the approval of others.
- Cognitive Example: "If I make sure everyone else is happy and their needs are met, then I won't be hurt."
- Behavioral Example: Always agreeing to requests, even at one's own expense; changing opinions or behaviors based on who they're with. This stems from the belief that pleasing others can protect them from harm.
Dissociation
A coping mechanism that allows individuals to mentally escape from distress, this adaptation, while providing temporary relief from pain, can complicate the formation of a coherent narrative about one's experiences, which is essential for healing and integration.
- Cognitive Example: "When things get too intense, it's like I can leave my body and go somewhere else where it's safe."
- Behavioral Example: Staring off into space or "zoning out" during stressful situations, having periods where one can't recall certain events or actions.
Emotional numbing
Emotional numbing shields people from trauma by dulling their feelings, leading to difficulties in experiencing and expressing a range of emotions and forming close relationships. It's a significant symptom of PTSD, impacting how individuals connect with their emotions and the world.
- Cognitive Example: "If I don't feel anything, then I can't be hurt anymore."
- Behavioral Example: Showing little to no emotional reaction to situations that typically evoke strong responses, avoiding emotionally charged topics or events.
Perfectionism may develop from trauma, driven by the belief that worth depends on flawless achievements. This can lead to excessive stress and hinder risk-taking and growth, functioning as a way to cope with unpredictability.
- Cognitive Example: "I have to be perfect in everything I do, or else I'll be judged or rejected."
- Behavioral Example: Spending excessive amounts of time on tasks to ensure they are done without any mistakes, often at the expense of personal well-being.
Control-seeking behaviors
Control-seeking behaviors in children stem from efforts to manage the uncertainty and turmoil of traumatic experiences. These behaviors aim to create a sense of stability and safety, countering feelings of powerlessness. Trauma survivors may adopt these strategies to lessen feelings of helplessness and regain a sense of control over their lives.
- Cognitive Example: "If I can control everything around me, then nothing bad can happen unexpectedly."
- Behavioral Example: Creating strict routines or rules for oneself and others at home and work, becoming upset if anything disrupts these routines.
Impulsivity
Impulsivity arises as an immediate response to the intense stress and emotional turmoil from unresolved trauma, often due to a chronically activated stress response system. Acting impulsively can momentarily distract from trauma-related distress, but it may also result in harmful consequences, impacting healthier stress management methods.
- Cognitive Example: "I can't handle this pressure; I just need to do something now to feel relief."
- Behavioral Example: Engaging in risky behaviors without considering the consequences, such as binge eating and purging, substance abuse, or reckless sexual behaviors.
Avoidance
A strategy to evade triggers that recall traumatic memories, reducing immediate anxiety and distress. Though it offers temporary relief, avoidance can hinder the processing of traumatic experiences, potentially exacerbating suffering and contributing to the development of PTSD.
- Cognitive Example: "If I stay away from anything that reminds me of what happened, then I won't have to deal with the pain."
- Behavioral Example: Actively avoiding certain locations, social situations, or people that are connected to traumatic events, even if this limits one's life experiences.
Again, all of these adaptations serve as coping mechanisms and survival strategies, enabling children to manage their distress and maintain some sense of control over their lives.
How brilliant that children can adapt to cope with and get through painful early circumstances!
But it’s important to recognize these adaptations can be both positive and negative (especially if they’re still running on autopilot in adulthood) which we’ll explore more in my next post on childhood trauma adaptations.
References
Perry, B. D., & Szalavitz, M. (2006). The boy who was raised as a dog and other stories from a child psychiatrist's notebook: What traumatized children can teach us about loss, love, and healing. Basic Books. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-23623-000
Ainsworth, M. S., & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46(4), 333–341. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.46.4.333
van der Hart, O., Nijenhuis, E. R. S., & Steele, K. (2006). The haunted self: Structural dissociation and the treatment of chronic traumatization. W W Norton & Co. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-13256-000
Litz, B. T. (1992). Emotional numbing in combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder: A critical review and reformulation. Clinical Psychology Review, 12(4), 417–432. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7358(92)90125-R
Kuch, K., Cox, B. J., & Direnfeld, D. M. (1995). A brief self-rating scale for PTSD after road vehicle accident. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 9, 503-514. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/articles/article-pdf/id24368.pdf
Flett, G. L., Hewitt, P. L., Nepon, T., Sherry, S. B., & Smith, M. (2023). The destructiveness and public health significance of socially prescribed perfectionism: A review, analysis, and conceptual extension. Retrieved from https://hewittlab.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/01/Flett-Hewitt-et-al-SPP-Destructiveness.pdf
Moran, E. G. (1994). Review of the book Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—From domestic abuse to political terror, by J. L. Herman. Gender and Society, 8(1), 136-138. https://www.jstor.org/stable/190079
Chapman, A. L., Gratz, K. L., & Brown, M. Z. (2006). Solving the puzzle of deliberate self-harm: The experiential avoidance model. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(3), 371-394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.03.005
Foa, E. B., & Kozak, M. J. (1986). Emotional processing of fear: Exposure to corrective information. Psychological Bulletin, 99(1), 20–35. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.99.1.20
