Violence

The human brain is the most intricate and complicated structure known in the universe. The brain's marvelous design makes it possible for us to grow and continually adapt to our changing environment. Approach and avoidance are the basic motivations of humans and all other life forms. Some people are very sensitive to rewards and all but ignore threats, whereas other people all but ignore rewards and are very sensitive to threats. Inhibition motivates people to avoid danger and trauma, while the reward response motivates people to find food and propagation. Our sensory world takes shape even before we are born and our patterns of approach and avoidance are largely subconscious. And if the mom in distress (physically/emotionally) during pregnancy, delivery, and/or afterward, it can have lasting effects on the child. Early trauma, abuse, neglect, fetal alcohol syndrome, early surgeries or hospitalizations, or premature birth can also have lasting effects. At the cellular level, growth and protection are mutually exclusive behaviors. All behaviors can be classified as either growth or protection responses. Cells move toward growth signals and away from life-threatening stimuli (protection response). Since a cell can not move forward and backward at the same time, a cell can not be in growth and protection at the same time. Nutrients for growth and maintenance are hijacked by the fight or flight response, and in time starving cells start dying. Your body's stress reaction was meant to protect you. But when it's constantly on alert, your health can pay the price. These effects may include autism, Asperger's, ADD or ADHD,  sleep, eating, or elimination disorders, pervasive emotional distress, anxiety (flight), anger issues (fight), depression, and such. These or feelings of rejection and abandonment often result in an inability to bond or attach to others. 40 million adult Americans grew up living with domestic violence. Child abuse scars not just the brain and body, but, according to the latest research, but may leave its mark on genes as well. Research has shown both, and that early trauma is particularly significant and that child abuse can have an especially pernicious effect on the developing brain. Early Attachment Wounding can leave some people stuck in old patterns and negative self-concepts where they find themselves repeatedly with people or in situations that echo the past. The degree to which developmental needs were not adequately met is the degree to which a client may be stuck in childhood. So the earlier the trauma and the intensity and duration of it is commensurate with the severity of  wounding and resulting problems. Reactive parts of self form in reaction to significantly wounding experiences. People are usually very aware of the problem behaviors, beliefs, or emotions of reactive parts. There are many types of reactive parts. Some hold raw emotions, like anxiety, terror, anger, sadness, grief, despair, shame, and hopelessness. Some hold reactions to specific traumatic experiences. Some cope with painful emotions with pain-avoidant behaviors like withdrawing, drinking, or overeating. Some cope with painful emotions with self-punishing behaviors like cutting, starving, or isolating. Some rebel with risky or self-destructive behaviors like drinking, smoking, or engaging in unprotected sex. Some try to manage hurtful people with strategic pleasing behaviors like complying or overachieving. Some try to prevent attacks from others by engaging in aggressive behaviors – putting up a façade of strength, intimidation, control, or power. And some try to control other parts of self with warnings, threats, commands, or admonitions intended to encourage behaviors that please others or discourage behaviors that might upset others. It’s not unusual for people who have experienced traumatic events to have flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories when something terrible happens. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, or other threats on a person's life.  7.7 million Americans age 18 and older have PTSD. It is not usually associated with infants but trauma early in life may result in increased susceptability to PTSD. Early trauma can cause more activity in the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for emotions such as fear and anxiety, and altered connectivity between the amygdala and a region of the brain involved in decision-making, and provides concrete neurobiological pathways that link early trauma with pathological aggression.  Such brain changes may have helped us to survive a harsh and cruel environment, by keeping us on edge and ready to confront any possible threats (resilience). However, those same changes may do more harm than good, leading some victims of abuse to slip into a vicious cycle, seeing threats where none exist, and overreacting to situations, often with violence.  Millions of children have their fundamental rights violated every day, and humans have become the most dangerous of all creatures. Emerging information about epigenetics may lead us to a new understanding of just what genetic inheritance is. Since disposition is apparently heritable, it may help to explain why humans are so violent. "If you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail." -Abraham Maslow. Anything we don't understand is a threat to the military industrial complex. According to Steven Greer and others believe that our nuculear weapons may be attracting the interest of extraterrestrial aliens, especially since we are considering weaponizing space. Between 1900 and 2000 an estimated 200 million people were killed in military actions so we are likely to be more violent than ET. Maybe they can save us from ourselves. Links isurvive.org -Resources and forums where adult survivors of child abuse and their loved ones can seek support - Articles & Blog Books You May Find Helpful Violence gene Warrior gene Chris Hedges on YouTube  Civilizations - thrive, fail, and eventual collapse The Origins of Violence Part 1