Just curious, on how much trauma of something like these incidents, would actually affect someone's personality? I'm thinking about 2-3 steps away from a complete head case.
2006-08-14 06:58:27 · 7 answers · asked by Little Hulk 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
It really depends on their personality "type" and how much healthy emotional support they've had in their environment.
All the things you describe, however, are things that sunder relationship. With rape, you can no longer trust people; moving around too much contributes to not wanting to form (and inevitably lose) deep long-term relationships; and with divorce, the two people you want to trust most in your life are no longer there, your stability is shot, etc.
IOW, life is VERY very uncertain, you don't know what will happen tomorrow, you can't afford to bond too deeply with people without suffering lots of pain, and so forth.
People all react to that differently. Some withdraw and become completely independent and unflappable. Some withdraw and flip out if you come too close. Some become overly dependent and highly sensitive/emotional, trying to control people. Some try to please others and lose their own identities.
The big commonality, though, is that life is not stable and nothing can be depended upon, so one has to someone "control" the environment to preserve one's physical and emotional safety. People do this differently.
2006-08-14 07:28:16 · answer #1 · answered by Jennywocky 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people are stronger than others. All incidents affect people in one way or another, even small things. I was raped, my dad tried to kill my mother and me when I was two, and I've lived in five states and in Europe. But I am definitely stronger than ever. I had a 3.4 GPA in high school, I graduated a year early, and I've read over 700 books in my life time. I think the only way to find out how much a person can take and how it will affect them is to put them through it.
2006-08-15 20:56:00 · answer #2 · answered by nh_rvr_chk_88 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can very much leave an effect on them. They have a lot of feelings and confusions to deal with. Most likely poor self -esteem. With opportunities, some counseling, and or good friends they will most likely be fine.
Another thing to consider is that all these circumstances mentioned may be more of a symptom than a cause.
If there is a family history of addiction and mental illness there is more of a propensity for the offspring to develop these.
Please don't ever judge a person by these things. Ones who have gone through tough times are often stronger for it. Some mentally ill are brilliant and fascinating people and make great friends and spouses. The treatments that can be found now can maintain a person quite fine. You just have to find the right one (often by trial and error)
You yourself will be stronger for knowing a survivor!
2006-08-14 14:23:25 · answer #3 · answered by Tarpaulin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought about it, you can't judge a book by its cover, personality wise you'll probably would never know b/c people can learn to hide their feelings they can be smiling on the outside while crying on the inside, for instance take myself I have gone through most of what you've described and I am always smiling I am a happy go lucky person, then there's times when these bad experiences surface in my mind and I have to battle, and reason with myself, when I lose a battle mentally I can get depressed at times knowing that depression is not going to help the matter I resort to prayer, that were I find peace and comfort. These things can affect us ,but not beat us, when we take on the right tools to fight with. Seek professional, and spiritual help.
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2006-08-14 14:31:08 · answer #4 · answered by Joyous Dawn in the morning 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well this sounds like my ex. He was emotionally cold and could not accept any love that was given to him. He was un-motivated to do anything and just smoked pot all day. Basically he was numb to the world. Also, he was very much into taking advantage of people. Anything that would let him continue to be numb was good to him. All in all, the only thing that I could do was to talk to him until he got angry. It wasn't intentional, but that was the only emotion that would emerge. Good luck if you know someone that this happened to. The communication is going to be almost non-exsistent. Really, good luck. I was compasionate and giving for 8 months. I thought that since I was in love and felt that I could help, everything would be ok. Not so. Good luck.
2006-08-14 14:39:42 · answer #5 · answered by Metacoma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the person.
Some people can take heartache and abuse and bounce right back. More often the recipient will be 2 to 3 steps away from being a head case, as you so eloquently put it. BUT that is not true in all cases.
TFTP
2006-08-14 14:05:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
HURT AND DEFENSIVE MELANCHOLIC PSYCH
2006-08-18 13:02:31 · answer #7 · answered by flowerspirit2000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋