ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on abuse and trauma from an attachment perspective. The chapter considers how the phenomena influence the workings of memory and the constructions of personal narrative. The clinical or preventative perspective, the contextual and 'cumulative trauma' accorded due weight. Post-traumatic stress disorder a syndrome originally understood in the context of the Vietnam War and superseded the notions of shellshock and battle fatigue developed by psychiatrists and psychologists in the First and Second World Wars. Intrinsic aggression and inevitable frustration of desire leads to murderous hatred in the baby, with libido, ideally contained and detoxified the care-giver; gradually the child learns to cope with feelings of disappointment and deferment of gratification. It aims of therapy is to enhance reflexive function, through providing the patient with an opportunity to experience, consider and master feelings in relation to the therapist. It makes Sandler and Sandler's 'present transference' important any recovery of memory.