Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBetrayal Trauma TheoryImpact and SymptomsCausesCoping

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Table of Contents

Betrayal Trauma Theory

Impact and Symptoms

Causes

Coping

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“This type of trauma usually relates to primary attachment figures like a parent, caregiver, or other important relationship fromchildhood. In adulthood, it tends to repeat among romantic partners,” saysSabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University.

This article explores the causes, symptoms, and impact of betrayal trauma, as well as some coping mechanisms that may be helpful.

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Origin of the Betrayal Trauma Theory

According to the theory, someone may experience betrayal trauma when:

The theory notes that the child may be more likely toblockthe abuse or betrayal from their mind and develop dissociative amnesia if they are dependent on the caregiver for their daily needs and survival. The child’s brain essentially ignores the betrayal in order to maintain their relationship with their caregiver and survive.

Otherwise, if the child processed the betrayal normally, they may start to avoid the caregiver and stop interacting with them which could threaten their survival.

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Impact and Symptoms of Betrayal Trauma

Below, Dr. Romanoff explains the impact of betrayal trauma and the symptoms a person may experience as a result.

Impact of Betrayal Trauma

What makes betrayal trauma so painful is that the person who is betrayed often cannot simply sever their relationship with the perpetrator.

In the instance of a parent or caregiver who is abusive or acts in a way that betrays a child’s trust, the child remains reliant on them even though the parent is no longer dependable or safe. This creates a complex relationship with primary attachment figures who are simultaneously providing harm and support.

These children may grow up to be adults who end up in relationships withpartnerswho violate their needs in familiar ways.In order to reconcile the two opposites of people who provide harm and care, they tend to avoid processing damaging behavior, normalize unhealthy behaviors, fabricate fantasies to compensate for painful memories, or even blame themselves.

At the core, people who have experienced betrayal trauma tend todissociatefrom the trauma.In turn, they struggle with the consequences of extreme dissociation of their emotions, feelings, and reactions to the trauma. It’s common for people to self-medicate with substances, food, relationships, sex, or other forms of distraction.

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Symptoms of Betrayal Trauma

Betrayal trauma can have a severe impact on the person and cause them to experience symptoms or health conditions such as:

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Causes of Betrayal Trauma

Below, Dr. Romanoff explains some of the causes of betrayal trauma, in childhood and adulthood.

Childhood Trauma

Abuseexperienced in childhood is one of the most common causes of betrayal trauma. It can include physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse.

Trauma in Adulthood

In adulthood, betrayal trauma is usually experienced in relationships withintimate partners, especially if a person has experienced trauma in the past. However, people may also experience betrayal trauma at the hands of others such as a close friend, colleague, or other person in their life.

Betrayal trauma in adulthood could look like:

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Coping With Betrayal Trauma

If you have experienced betrayal trauma, Dr. Romanoff suggests some steps that can help you cope:

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We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

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9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

University of Oregon.The Encyclopedia of Psychological Trauma.

University of Oregon.What is a Betrayal Trauma?

Science Direct.Betrayal Trauma.

Gobin RL.Partner preferences among survivors of betrayal trauma.J Trauma Dissociation. 2012;13(2):152-174. doi:10.1080/15299732.2012.642752

Babcock RL, DePrince AP.Childhood betrayal trauma and self-blame appraisals among survivors of intimate partner abuse.J Trauma Dissociation. 2012;13(5):526-538. doi:10.1080/15299732.2012.694842

Goldsmith RE, Freyd JJ, DePrince AP.Betrayal trauma: associations with psychological and physical symptoms in young adults.J Interpers Violence. 2012;27(3):547-567. doi:10.1177/0886260511421672

Kline NK, Palm Reed KM.Betrayal vs. nonbetrayal trauma: Examining the different effects of social support and emotion regulation on PTSD symptom severity.Psychol Trauma. 2021;13(7):802-809. doi:10.1037/tra0000983

Klest B, Tamaian A, Boughner E.A model exploring the relationship between betrayal trauma and health: the roles of mental health, attachment, trust in healthcare systems, and nonadherence to treatment.Psychol Trauma. 2019;11(6):656-662. doi:10.1037/tra0000453

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