250 word respond to each respond (2) must include 1 APA refrence

Frank Bedell

Liberty University

Running head: Trauma, Development and Spirituality 1

Trauma, Development and Spirituality 5

Trauma, Development, and Spirituality

In a perfect world, all children would be born without complications and they would be born as perfect specimens of physical, mental and spiritual health. They would develop through every stage of life without experiencing illness or accidents. They would enjoy the perfect, loving care of their parents and they would never suffer harm from their family or from others. But, we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a fallen world subject to pain and suffering. And our pain and suffering results in an experience often described as trauma. Trauma is a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems. Trauma can result in a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury. (Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, n.d.) Trauma, whether it is the result of physical, emotional or spiritual abuse, has a corollary effect on human growth development and specifically, it has a cause and effect relationship on the brain, or neural development.

Trauma and Effect

Trauma, whether it results from an obvious form of physical abuse or a less subtle form of psychological abuse will have a direct effect on brain development. Perry and Marcellus (n.d.) refer to the term “use-dependent” as a developmental theory that is critical in understanding the impact of trauma on neural development. The human brain is a bottom-up organization. At birth, the brain is not fully developed. It develops and modifies itself in response to experience. When the brain is injured, the development process is interrupted or injured and neural development does not take place as it should. Neural development is affected by trauma.

Trauma and Spirituality

Does spiritual development counter the effects of trauma? First, difficulties in life, even those that cause trauma, are to be expected. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (I Peter 4:12, New International Version). Bad things happen to bad people and, bad things happen to good people. However, the effects of traumatic events can be ameliorated. Brooks (n.d.) points out that significant research has taken place that shows the positive effects upon the brain of prayer and meditation. One of those effects is that the act of worship through prayer and meditation has a calming effect upon the nervous system. When the children of Israel were struggling both physically and spiritually, the prophet Jeremiah refocuses their attention on the sufficiency of God by asking the rhetorical question, “is there no balm in Gilead” (Jeremiah 8:12 NIV). Jeremiah’s point was that the children of Israel should look to God for their comfort and for their support. In the same way, we can find support in God and through God’s word. Jeremiah was making an observation that behavioral scientist have discovered. Spiritual development includes a healing process.

Trauma – Determining Factors

What are the determining factors that lead to developmental delays when a child is exposed to trauma? Obvious factors might include physical manifestations of physical abuse. Perry (n.d.) states that in the United States alone, there are over three million reported cases of child abuse or neglect. Unhealthy home environments where children are exposed to unsanitary conditions, poverty or malnutrition are observable factors that can lead to growth delays. Feldman (2014) points out that nutrition is linked to cognitive performance. Good nutrition provides a solid base for children and learning while malnutrition can dampen a child’s curiosity, responsiveness and motivation to learn – the effect of which is poor neural development. Less obvious factors might include psychological or emotional abuse. These kinds of trauma can lead a child to isolate themselves or to engage in antisocial behavior

Trauma – Cultural Differences

How does culture determine varying views and effects of trauma? Culture provides the lens through which people view their world. It affects our definition of trauma and appropriate responses to traumatic events. Some trauma supersedes culture. For instance, a blow to the head in any culture will produce similar results of neural dysfunction. However, some cultures may encourage individuals in a victim mentality while other cultures will not. Individuals with a victim mentality will develop differently. Therefore, culture plays a significant role in how individuals deal with trauma.

Conclusion

Trauma has a cause and effect upon human growth and development. Specifically, traumatic events have an impact upon neurological growth. Trauma impacts the neural development of individuals on a continuum from minor to severe. Violence in an individual’s life can cause physical damage and therefore create a dysfunctional development system. Other kinds of abuse, including mental or spiritual abuse, also have a negative effect upon human growth and development. Cultural differences exist and impact both the definition of trauma as well as the response to traumatic events. Regardless of source or type, traumatic events have a direct impact on human neural development. Future research may want to explore the role of personality in culture as it relates to how an individual responds and recovers from a traumatic episode.

References

Brooks, J (n.d.). Moral Development vs. Spiritual Development. Retrieved February 1, 2014, from Liberty University Online, Lynchburg, VA.

Feldman, R. S. (2014). Development Across the Life Span (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Perry, B. (n.d.). The impact of abuse and neglect on the Developing Brain. Retrieved February 3, 2014, from http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/abuse_neglect.htm

Roehlkepartain, E., King, P., Wagener, L., & Benson, P. (2005). The Handbook of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publication.