PhD defence M.K.M. (Milou) Lünnemann

Summary:

The main goal of this dissertation is to extend our knowledge on underlying mechanisms of the ‘making or breaking’ of the intergenerational transmission of family violence. The findings show that the intergenerational transmission can be explained by several mechanisms. The youth themselves explained this transmission especially by the mechanism of social learning; they did not have the right role model, and therefore, were less able to learn healthy conflict tactic skills, to talk about emotions and to develop emotion regulation skills. Underneath this behavior several trauma symptoms may exist, which can be triggered by certain stimuli, resulting in certain behavior. Additionally, based on interactions with their parents when they are young, children develop a secure or insecure attachment style. Family violence affects the attachment quality, increasing the risk of low self-esteem and mistrusting others, resulting in problems finding the right balance between connectedness and autonomy, setting boundaries, and sometimes even (justifying) controlling or aggressive behavior. Our results also highlight that children are resilient and able to break the intergenerational transmission of violence; with the right professional or social support and understanding, the youth can learn from their experiences with others, resulting in trust in self and others, reducing the risk of experiencing (later) violence within their romantic relationships. These findings highlight the need for specialized and long-term care, with a focus on strengthening the social network, to foster safe family environments for future generations of children exposed to family violence.