Trauma Bonding: concepts, causes and mechanisms in intimate relationships

Abstract

When, after a violent incident, strong emotional bonds are established in order to connect two people, there is the installation of a trauma called by the literature as trauma bonding. It is an emotional dependence between two people, in a relationship characterized by periods of abuse, violence and power imbalance, with bonds of intense connection, cognitive distortion and behavioral strategies of both individuals that paradoxically strengthen and maintain the bond, which is reflected in the vicious cycle of violence. However, there is a lack of literature and scientific research on the subject in Brazil, which highlights the need for a refined and in-depth study, since the causes and effects of trauma bonding are still not exactly clear, which makes the understanding and treatment of individuals, as well as their recovery, a slow and painful process. Thus, this research is guided by the question: what is trauma bonding and what are its mechanisms? Thus, it was defined as the general objective to analyze trauma bonding in loving relationships, in order to give birth to the neuropsychobiological processes of trauma generated in intimate relationships and to investigate the reasons why victims remain in pathological relationships, we will also address the functioning of Stockholm Syndrome and posttraumatic stress in victims of abuse in loving relationships as factors that generate trauma bonding. For contextualization, problematization and validation of the theoretical framework used in the research undertaken, the methodology used was the literature review or bibliographic review, from the reading, selection and analysis of texts of different genres, such as records, reviews and scientific articles related to the subject and which were published in journals and newspapers in the area. It was concluded that several emotional and neuropsychobiological factors are the cause for trauma bonding to be established within a relationship.