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Abduction And Confinement Psychological Effects

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Abduction and confinement is a psychologically damaging crime since it leaves victims with psychological wounds that take long to heal. Victims get deep mental and emotional scars that affect their lives in terms of love, trust, respect, and independence. Individuals who have survived kidnapping have been found to have problems regarding the issues of trust for the rest of their lives due to the deprivation of freedom as well as being held against their will. However, for people like Elizabeth Smart who was abducted and later released feels that to deal with the ensuing psychological effects, one has to forget about their past and move on with life. This research work seeks to address the psychological effects if abduction and confinement using …show more content…

Emotional Effects The emotional effects of kidnapping and captivity include fear, anxiety, numbness, and shock. The individual becomes hopeless and helpless in addition to feelings of anger towards the kidnappers, family members, themselves, and authorities. One may also become depressed and have feelings of guilt. Agitation and anxiety may be misperceived as behavioral problems. Diminished Trust and Fear of Falling Asleep Kidnapping and confinement leads to psychological disturbances in all the aspects of the victim’s life. Such include having trouble sleeping since the victim develops the fear of falling asleep and letting their guard down thus risking being taken again. The individual may also experience sexual effects, especially if the previous abduction involved sexual abuse, which escalates to difficulties in trusting their partners. …show more content…

One may also have denial, which is shown by the failure to acknowledge the event as having happened. Denial delays the period of healing and adjusting to normal life. One may also exhibit behaviors, such as psychological infantilism and frozen fright. Attachment Some individuals develop an unconscious bond with their kidnapper and experience grief if the perpetrator is harmed. The victim may rely on the captor for basic needs, which makes the victim to associate with their feeder through the process of classical conditional. Discussion The shock of being abducted and confined against one’s will exerts psychological pressure leading to trauma-inducing thoughts. The unfolding events affect the individual psychologically as they get to know the reasons behind the ordeal. Conclusion Kidnapping is a very traumatizing experience for any individual as it leaves psychological scars that may take forever to heal. This research paper sought to address the psychological effects of abduction and confinement and to some extend borrowing from the case of Elizabeth Smart; child victim of abduction and prolonged confinement. The effects are social, emotional, and cognitive, which when not addressed at the right time might lead to lasting mental

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