Our Theory of DNA-Self, includes the concept that, due to a small child’s ability to forget upsetting or uncomfortable moments, adults may well find that they actually have two masks. One will be hidden, and highly automated.
The interplay between behaviourism and the psychological mechanisms of avoiding personal truths and projecting blame as part of the phenomena we know as scapegoating, is multidimensional, changing from target to target, based on specific triggers and biases, originating from differing attachment needs.
Mary Dinsmore Ainsworth (née Salter, 1913–1999) was an American-Canadian developmental psychologist who made foundational contributions to the field of attachment theory. Born in Glendale, Ohio, Ainsworth spent most of her childhood in Toronto, Canada, and earned her BA, MA, and PhD in psychology from the University of Toronto
This article looks into the basic family relationship, as driven by our genetic need for connection, support, nurturing and protection. We then propose a typical dysfunctional scenario, based on parents that are avoidant of that connection. It proposes that this scenario will result in children that will include a scapegoat, who may well develop C-PTSD based Stockholm Syndrome, before they are old enough to verbalise their long-term abuse. It also introduces a new term – Puppy-dog Syndrome, to describe one of the observable behaviours of children that have had this childhood.
In this article, we will explore the origins, characteristics, and effects of avoidant attachment style, as well as some strategies to cope with it or overcome it.