Long standing and repeated childhood trauma, such as chronic physical and sexual abuse seems to have its own special effects on the developing individual that have repercussions on into adulthood. This is of course a whole talk in its own right, but its not difficult to imagine how for example repeated sexual assault by a trusted adult might severely stuff up your emotional development.

Just to run briefly through those:

• Loss of basic trust
• Fear of sexual contact
• Sexualisation of normal affection
• Routine use of extreme defense mechanisms
• Guilt
• Destruction of the family environment
• More guilt and often re-criminations
• Lack of adequate parental role models
• Generational transmission