Why Do Abused People Sometimes Become Abusers? (sex)

[Sunstone]

Why do abused people sometimes become abusers?

Studies show that people who have been abused tend to pass along their abuse to others when given a chance. Why is that?

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Why do abused people sometimes become abusers?

Studies show that people who have been abused tend to pass along their abuse to others when given a chance. Why is that?

Association. Abuse becomes associated with elements surrounding the abuse. If it is a sexual abuse, the victim will equate sex to abuse. If it is domesticate, the victim will equate home with abuse.

[Draka]

When children are abused I tend to think it usually goes one of two ways. Either they become abusive themselves because that is all they saw and knew while growing up and they have it in their minds that it is normal behaviour, OR they were lucky enough to have gotten out of it or had someone care enough about them that they knew it was wrong and they grow up to never lay a hand on anyone and defend those who are abused because they know how it felt.

It's kind of like the abused woman who goes from abusive relationship to abusive relationship because that is all she knows and it has become normal and expected for her. Self-esteem has a lot to do with it.