Doctoral Lecturer, Director of Forensic Psychology MA Program John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, New York, United States
Abstract Purpose This introductory talk summarizes the historical development of theory and inquiry surrounding trauma bonding—beginning with early theories (conceptualizing victims as masochistic, weak, or pathological) and ending with the current concept of trauma-coerced attachment (TCA; shifting the onus from victim ‘deficiencies’ to the control and abuse tactics of the perpetrator). Specifically, it redefines TCA as a dissociative response to chronic coercion and explores its theoretical underpinnings, including coercive control, induced dependency, and shifts in self-perception and worldview. It presents an operational definition of TCA, situating it within the DSM-5-TR category of “other specified dissociative disorder: identity disturbance due to prolonged and intense coercive persuasion.”
Methods This presentation utilizes historical clinical data, as well as contemporary quantitative and qualitative research evidence (some of which was conducted by our research lab) to examine the precursors and elements of trauma-coerced attachment. Particular attention is paid to qualitative data analysis and its role in the theoretical development of TCA.
Findings Evolutionary theory and attachment theory, as well as the trauma and dissociation literature, illuminate the precursors to and elements of TCA. TCA can be understood as a dissociative syndrome resulting from coercive control—positioned at the intersection of evolutionary adaptations to captivity and exploited attachment needs. It is characterized by a powerful dependency and maintained by a dissociative identity disturbance, which allows the victim to exist in an otherwise unbearable and dangerous reality.
Conclusion The phenomenon of victims forming seemingly paradoxical attachments to their abusers is well-documented throughout history. Trauma bonding has been observed across myriad abusive contexts involving interpersonal violence or captivity: war, hostage situations, cults, child abuse, intimate partner violence, and sex trafficking. These attachments were initially understood to be a result of victim defectiveness, weakness, or inferiority. However, recent conceptualizations (as described in this presentation), have led to more comprehensive explanations, which shift the onus from the victim to the perpetrator and conceptualize trauma bonds as 1) a consequence of coercive control and 2) a means of survival.
