Lifestyle
Child Abuse: Unraveling Guilt in Child Victims
Understand the emotional complexity that leads child abuse victims to feel guilt, even in the face of unexpected physiological responses.
Specialist Andreza Thans, on Donas da Voz, discusses the painful guilt felt by child abuse victims. She explains the mental confusion that arises when a child perceives the act's severity, even when physiological responses generate pleasure. This offers an essential look at stolen innocence and the unjust burden these children carry.
On the "Sua Voz" segment of Donas da Voz, host Livia Matos welcomes specialist Andreza Thans for a deep conversation about a sensitive topic: the feeling of guilt that plagues child abuse victims. Andreza unravels the complex emotional and physiological web that can lead a child to carry an unjust burden, emphasizing that the victim is never to blame.
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Mental Confusion in Childhood
Andreza Thans explains that in early childhood (specifically from 2 to 6 years old), there is immense mental confusion for a child experiencing abuse. What is clearly violence to an adult might, at first, be perceived as a "game" by the child. This distorted perception prevents the child from understanding the severity of what is happening, creating an environment of uncertainty and ambiguity.
The Unjust Burden of Guilt and Autonomic Physiology
From the age of 6, a child begins to develop the perception that the situation is "no longer fun." However, Andreza highlights a crucial point: physiology is autonomic. Even if the child feels revulsion or anger, the stimulus can continue to release sensations of pleasure, which the specialist describes as the child being "eroticized."
This duality between revulsion and a positive physiological response causes a profound internal division. The child questions: "How can this be? Am I to blame then? Did all this happen because of me?" It is at this moment that the feeling of guilt sets in, a heavy and completely unjust burden, as the body's responses do not negate the violence suffered.
It is fundamental to understand that, regardless of any physiological response or initial perception, the child is never to blame. The discussion on Donas da Voz reminds us of the importance of offering a supportive and understanding environment so that these women can break free from emotional ties and find their voices, transforming pain into strength.
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