Hildegard (@Hildegard) İletileri

"The author was explicit in refuting that childhood sexual abuse is not the causality of gender nonconformation, but rather, gender nonconforming (GNC) behaviors may be risk factors for childhood sexual abuse (CSA). (...) An Imprinted Arousal Pattern (IAP), which is common among individuals with a history of CSA, can be defined as a phenomenon where an individual in adulthood may continue to seek out heightened states of arousal (not necessarily sexual arousal) and circumstances that blatantly or implicitly resemble circumstances of the abuse. This type of behavior is learned, and is imprinted as a result of the traumatic effect of CSA. These behaviors or efforts to reconcile their trauma are repeated in a maladaptive, ego-dystonic pattern, which are ultimately frantic attempts to heal from their trauma. Behaviors of IAPs are of particular concern as they have the potential to lead to high-risk sexual behaviors as well, such as unsafe cruising for sex, sex while inebriated in efforts to perhaps dissociate and detach from the experience, or other dangerous sexual situations. It is believed that the individual may still be in an unconsciously heightened emotional state of arousal associated with the traumatic experience. This may cause the individual to feel out of control of their state of arousal and emotions, similar to their experience of being sexually abused as a child. However, as adults, gay men with a history of CSA may try to control their affect in efforts to not feel victimized by their trauma anymore (Cassese, 2000)." Khouraki, A. (2020). The Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on the Self-Identified Gay Male (Doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University).