CHILDHOOD ABUSE IMPACT ON SEXUALITY

<p>Emotional fluctuations in at-risk children are then shaped by invalidating caregiving environments through repeated exchanges and operant learning. Invalidating environments can include the rejection or oversimplification of emotions by family members leading to misunderstood/poorly communicated emotions and subsequent reinforcement of extreme emotional reactions. Over time emotionally invalidating environments and poor communication between children and caregivers lead to further emotional fluctuations-now emotional</p><p>dysregulation-and thus irregulated behavior. Maladaptive behaviors (e.g. selfinjury) emerge during adolescence and pose a significant risk for developing BPD. These learned behaviors function as emotional regulation/avoidance strategies but also exacerbate the risk for BPD by disrupting healthy emotional growth in relationships leading to interpersonal dysfunction.</p>