How Ineffective Family Environments Can Compound Maldevelopment of Critical Thinking Skills in Childhood Abuse Survivors

Abstract

The high stress of childhood abuse is associated with neurobiological detriments to executive function. Child abuse survivors may also be cognitively and relationally disadvantaged as a result of being raised in emotionally impoverished families that lack cohesion, organization, flexibility, self-expression, and moral and ethical values and fail to provide opportunities for effective learning. A review of literature demonstrates how dysfunctional family of origin environments common to child abuse survivors, concomitant with the extreme stress of overt acts of abuse, can act as a barrier to the development of higher-order critical thinking skills. The article concludes by discussing ramifications of critical thinking skill deficits in child abuse survivors and highlights the importance of integrating and prioritizing critical thinking skills training in treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• childhood abuse
• maltreatment
• family environment
• executive functioning
• critical thinking skills

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alessandra C. Kostolitz

Alessandra C. Kostolitz, PsyD, graduated from Nova Southeastern University and completed her doctoral psychology internship at the Louise R. Goldhagen Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Consulting Center at Florida State University. She provides a range of psychological services to children and adolescents and their families, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and consultation services.

Scott M. Hyman

Scott M. Hyman, PhD, is an associate professor in The Doctoral Psychology Department at Carlos Albizu University (CAU). He earned his PhD from Nova Southeastern University, completed his clinical internship at The Boston Consortium in Clinical Psychology, and his postdoctoral fellowship at The Yale University School of Medicine.

Steven N. Gold

Steven N. Gold, PhD, is a professor and director of the Trauma Resolution and Integration Program (TRIP) at the Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University. His primary areas of research are psychological trauma, dissociative processes, and sexual addiction.