How does childhood trauma impact an adult’s inclination toward altruistic behavior?

Abstract

The paper discusses complex associations existing between the experience of traumatic stress in childhood and adult altruistic behavior, pointing at the paradoxical outcomes that come from the ACEs. Much literature is studded with evidence pointing to the fact that ACEs presently decrease adult social functioning, although recent studies go on to show specific forms of trauma that actually increase altruistic tendencies. The mechanisms synthesized in this paper from different psychological and social perspectives, ranging from the Cycle of Violence to the Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis, substantiate how trauma can sometimes act both as a suppressor and a promoter of altruism, depending on the context. For example, systemic oppression is related to fostering empathy and altruism, while personal violence normally leads to hypervigilance and reduces the capacity for selfless behavior. Moreover, environmental traumas, such as disasters, also demonstrate temporary surges in acts of altruism that fade over a little period. This double role underpins the fact that nuanced approaches are called for in addressing the long-term psychological effects of childhood trauma. Thus, the paper supports cognitive behavioral therapy as an effective treatment that would help reduce the negative impact of trauma on altruism during the course of treatment by maintaining good mental health. Ultimately, understanding these dynamics may also be useful in the fostering of more empathetic communities and meeting the larger social implications of lowered altruistic behaviors associated with childhood trauma.