Violence regulation and dysregulation system

Tanja Valenta

Franciscan Family Institute
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3924-9607

Christian Gostečnik

Tanja Pate

Tanja Repič Slavič

Abstract

Very early in childhood, relational trauma can lead to affect dysregulation in two directions: while intense fear determines the dysregulation of the brain system responsible for flight, uncontrolled aggression means the dysregulation of the brain centre responsible for fight. Both systems send the message of dysregulation in the autonomic nervous system. In both cases, there is a dysregulation of sympathetic arousal that exceeds the individual’s ability to cope with stress in a functional and effective manner. In other words, the flight response is triggered by immense fear, and the fight response is caused by intense anger and rage, which is functional in a normal response to trauma, while in the case of a dysregulated psycho-organic system it indicates a disorder that can have long-term consequences. These disorders can occur at a very early stage, in children who are at the time exposed to severe stress situations; this can lead to changes in the child’s neurobiological system, which may later become a source of psychopathology.

Keywords:

regulation of violence, dysregulation system, intense fear, uncontrolled aggression, changes in the child’s neurobiological system