Freud seemed to think the human was created from trauma in a dialectical way. Infantile sexual impulses frustrated = trauma. Could be resolved by sublimation-- attraction to a parent giving way to being attracted to his or her type. Army basic training = traumatic. Resolve by turning into "super soldier." Freud was known to call humans a "disease."
I'm pretty convinced a very large chunk of the abusive behaviors we see perpetuated in society are trauma related.
I also would say that trauma I experienced led to a lack of personal embodiment and a very warped understanding of how and when to enforce personal boundaries. I know it also made drugs and alcohol quite attractive especially the delight in excessive indulgence and the camaraderie found in kindred spirits. Those who shared the appetite and fortitude to "keep it together" while aggressively self medicating. Took me a long time to realize that I was using these substances to escape self jusgement, anxiety and depression.
It's hard to know what anxiety is when you have only been anxious. My default was anxious hyper vigilance with a huge dollop of low self esteem.
I have a firm belief that effectively addressing existing trauma and minimizing or eliminating emergent trauma in the existing population will do more to move our civilization forward in a significant and noticeable way. Sadly this needs to be done for decades long stretches which makes me think it's unlikely.
Freud seemed to think the human was created from trauma in a dialectical way. Infantile sexual impulses frustrated = trauma. Could be resolved by sublimation-- attraction to a parent giving way to being attracted to his or her type. Army basic training = traumatic. Resolve by turning into "super soldier." Freud was known to call humans a "disease."
I'm pretty convinced a very large chunk of the abusive behaviors we see perpetuated in society are trauma related.
I also would say that trauma I experienced led to a lack of personal embodiment and a very warped understanding of how and when to enforce personal boundaries. I know it also made drugs and alcohol quite attractive especially the delight in excessive indulgence and the camaraderie found in kindred spirits. Those who shared the appetite and fortitude to "keep it together" while aggressively self medicating. Took me a long time to realize that I was using these substances to escape self jusgement, anxiety and depression.
It's hard to know what anxiety is when you have only been anxious. My default was anxious hyper vigilance with a huge dollop of low self esteem.
I have a firm belief that effectively addressing existing trauma and minimizing or eliminating emergent trauma in the existing population will do more to move our civilization forward in a significant and noticeable way. Sadly this needs to be done for decades long stretches which makes me think it's unlikely.