Maltraitances sexuelles infantiles et répétition victimaire dans les relations conjugales à l’âge adulte

Aims

In this article, we show the consequences of childhood sexual abuse on psychic development and its implication in victimary repetition in adulthood.

Method

The case study presented in this article is from a doctoral research project in psychology about the impact of early relationships on the experience of intimate partner violence in adulthood. This case appears emblematic of the rest of our population. The elements mentioned are anonymized and analyzed from a psychoanalytic perspective.

Results

The results show the conscious and unconscious consequences of childhood sexual abuse on the victims’ psychological development. Indeed, the psychic intrusion following early sexual abuse hinders the construction of the self and prevents the psychic instances from functioning properly. This intrusion also leads to repetition in violent intimate relationships. Oscillating between primary and secondary processes, the person can cut her/himself off from a part of her/his emotional life to avoid psychic and/or somatic disorganization.

Discussion

After experiencing early sexual trauma, even if the psychic apparatus is temporarily able to keep the traumatic elements far from the conscious mind, these elements still act in the unconscious. The work of shame and guilt, which are constitutive elements of moral masochism, lock the subject into a deadly repetition compulsion that can promote the experience of repetitive intimate partner violence (physical, psychological, sexual) in adulthood.

Conclusion

To prevent, detect, and care for women victims of childhood sexual abuse, it is necessary to consider their modalities of psychic functioning, the formation of their Self, and their ability to psychically transform the trauma they suffered.