AP Psych: Aversive Childhood Experiences

ACEs

• adverse childhood experiences

• abusive situations

  • EX: babies locked at home under abuse or extreme neglect often become withdrawn, frightened, speechless

• Many children who grow up under adversity withstand trauma and become well-adjusted adults

• Children who face hardship often become tougher adults

Harlow Monkeys

• monkeys raised in total isolation became frightful or aggressive in the presence of other monkeys

• could not mate, if pregnant monkeys often abusive toward first born

Abuse in Humans

• Many abused become abusive→neglected or abused children often later become abusive toward their own children

• Traumatized adults often have lifelong scars

  • heightened brain activity

  • stronger startle, higher rates of suicide

• Impoverished children often are less educated and turn to crime

• Anxiety, depression, drug abuse, struggle to get a job

• Abused children are more likely to develop stress-related diseases or early death