Intergenerational Transmission Mechanisms of Developmental Trauma: An Analysis Based on Attachment, Emotion Regulation and Mentalization

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Developmental trauma is harm to children caused by living in an unstable, neglected or dangerous environment for a long time in their early years. The experience will also have some long-term effects on emotion regulation, social skills and personality development; it may be passed down through the family over time in interactions with parents and children. Research abroad has been conducted from the aspects of attachment, parenting behavior and emotional functioning, but an integrated explanation of the inner psychological mechanisms of intergenerational transmission is still relatively weak. According to the attachment theory and mentalization theory, this paper will carry out a review of the literature and theoretical integration to study the psychological mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of developmental trauma, with an emphasis on how attachment functioning, emotion regulation and mentalization are related. Based on the results, unresolved early traumatic experiences can cause insecure attachment and problems with emotion regulation; when there is strong emotional arousal, these may be worse and hinder a person's ability to mindfully observe and respond to the emotions and mental states of young children, thus increasing the risk of passing on the trauma to the next generation.