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Public release date: 27-Feb-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Jim Barlow
jebarlow@uoregon.edu
541-346-3481
University of Oregon
'Betrayal blindness' buries the tragedy and hinders intimate relationships, authors say
EUGENE, Ore. -- (Feb. 27, 2013) -- "Betrayal violates us," write University of Oregon psychologists Jennifer Freyd and Pamela Birrell in the preface of a new book that tackles the devastating act and probes the deep underpinnings of why people cover it up.
"Blind to Betrayal" (John Wiley & Sons, 224 pages) hits the bookstands March 11. Freyd, an expert on betrayal and child abuse, and Birrell, a licensed clinical psychologist and senior instructor in the UO Department of Psychology, present case studies of unfaithful spouses, abuse by powerful authority figures and corrupt institutions. More importantly, they address coming to grips with betrayal and how doing so helps victims move on.
In recent years, the world's media have been filled with stories of betrayal, including sexual abuse of young boys by priests and by an assistant football coach at one of the nation's most-respected college football programs. Freyd often is among psychologists asked by the media to try to help people understand the underlying complexities.
"Everyone is touched by betrayal," said Freyd, currently the editor of the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, in an interview. "Betrayal can happen in close personal relationships and in larger social contexts, such as the workplace. If we reflect on our own lives, we realize we have all experienced betrayal. What is the impact of betrayal? And why should we deal with it? Do we turn a blind eye or do we confront it?"
In the book's opening chapter, Freyd and Birrell present the case history of a married woman who was betrayed by her unfaithful husband. As the chapter closes, the reader is told: "On discovery of betrayal, a key response is to reorganize one's perceptions of what has happened -- to rewrite history. Betrayal therefore has a fundamental impact on one's perceptions of reality."
A paragraph later, the authors address the issue head on: "And yet, although betrayal is so common and insidious, very little has been written about it in the psychological literature. Psychology as a discipline may suffer from betrayal blindness. Part of the problem stems from a tendency in clinical psychology and psychiatry to focus on individuals and individual symptoms. As a result, the relations between people -- betrayal and its blindness -- are not seen."
For many people, Freyd said, the first betrayals often are experienced in early childhood where there is little option to confront the full reality. "In fact," she said, "it usually is safer for children to be blind to betrayal when it comes from the hands of a caregiver or someone the child trusts. In that situation, seeing the betrayal would likely only make matters worse because a natural response to seeing betrayal is to confront it in some way. If a child confronts a betraying caregiver his or her situation is likely to become worse, even threatening survival."
Blindness to betrayal is a survival response, she said, but there is a high price for not seeing the betrayal for what it is. "It keeps us from being fully strong, alive or healthy," she said. "It makes us vulnerable to more betrayal makes it difficult to have truly intimate relationships."
Blind to Betrayal tackles the why behind the blindness, details its toxicity and extensively explores the healing power of coming to grips with betrayals that occur. The book has garnered praise from early reviewers.
###
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.
Sources:
Jennifer Freyd, professor of psychology
541-346-4929, jjf@uoregon.edu
Pamela Birrell, senior instructor of psychology
541-346-4932, pbirrell@uoregon.edu
Links:
About the book: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470604409.html and https://sites.google.com/site/betrayalbook/
Early reviews: https://sites.google.com/site/betrayalbook/generous-blurbs
Freyd faculty page: http://dynamic.uoregon.edu/~jjf/index.html
Birrell faculty page: http://psychweb.uoregon.edu/people/birrell-pam
About Freyd's research: http://dynamic.uoregon.edu/~jjf/institutionalbetrayal/index.html
Psychology department: http://psychweb.uoregon.edu/
Follow UO Science on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UniversityOfOregonScience
Note: The University of Oregon is equipped with an on-campus television studio with satellite uplink capacity, and a radio studio with an ISDN phone line for broadcast-quality radio interviews. Call the Media Contact above to begin the process.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 27-Feb-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Jim Barlow
jebarlow@uoregon.edu
541-346-3481
University of Oregon
'Betrayal blindness' buries the tragedy and hinders intimate relationships, authors say
EUGENE, Ore. -- (Feb. 27, 2013) -- "Betrayal violates us," write University of Oregon psychologists Jennifer Freyd and Pamela Birrell in the preface of a new book that tackles the devastating act and probes the deep underpinnings of why people cover it up.
"Blind to Betrayal" (John Wiley & Sons, 224 pages) hits the bookstands March 11. Freyd, an expert on betrayal and child abuse, and Birrell, a licensed clinical psychologist and senior instructor in the UO Department of Psychology, present case studies of unfaithful spouses, abuse by powerful authority figures and corrupt institutions. More importantly, they address coming to grips with betrayal and how doing so helps victims move on.
In recent years, the world's media have been filled with stories of betrayal, including sexual abuse of young boys by priests and by an assistant football coach at one of the nation's most-respected college football programs. Freyd often is among psychologists asked by the media to try to help people understand the underlying complexities.
"Everyone is touched by betrayal," said Freyd, currently the editor of the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, in an interview. "Betrayal can happen in close personal relationships and in larger social contexts, such as the workplace. If we reflect on our own lives, we realize we have all experienced betrayal. What is the impact of betrayal? And why should we deal with it? Do we turn a blind eye or do we confront it?"
In the book's opening chapter, Freyd and Birrell present the case history of a married woman who was betrayed by her unfaithful husband. As the chapter closes, the reader is told: "On discovery of betrayal, a key response is to reorganize one's perceptions of what has happened -- to rewrite history. Betrayal therefore has a fundamental impact on one's perceptions of reality."
A paragraph later, the authors address the issue head on: "And yet, although betrayal is so common and insidious, very little has been written about it in the psychological literature. Psychology as a discipline may suffer from betrayal blindness. Part of the problem stems from a tendency in clinical psychology and psychiatry to focus on individuals and individual symptoms. As a result, the relations between people -- betrayal and its blindness -- are not seen."
For many people, Freyd said, the first betrayals often are experienced in early childhood where there is little option to confront the full reality. "In fact," she said, "it usually is safer for children to be blind to betrayal when it comes from the hands of a caregiver or someone the child trusts. In that situation, seeing the betrayal would likely only make matters worse because a natural response to seeing betrayal is to confront it in some way. If a child confronts a betraying caregiver his or her situation is likely to become worse, even threatening survival."
Blindness to betrayal is a survival response, she said, but there is a high price for not seeing the betrayal for what it is. "It keeps us from being fully strong, alive or healthy," she said. "It makes us vulnerable to more betrayal makes it difficult to have truly intimate relationships."
Blind to Betrayal tackles the why behind the blindness, details its toxicity and extensively explores the healing power of coming to grips with betrayals that occur. The book has garnered praise from early reviewers.
###
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.
Sources:
Jennifer Freyd, professor of psychology
541-346-4929, jjf@uoregon.edu
Pamela Birrell, senior instructor of psychology
541-346-4932, pbirrell@uoregon.edu
Links:
About the book: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470604409.html and https://sites.google.com/site/betrayalbook/
Early reviews: https://sites.google.com/site/betrayalbook/generous-blurbs
Freyd faculty page: http://dynamic.uoregon.edu/~jjf/index.html
Birrell faculty page: http://psychweb.uoregon.edu/people/birrell-pam
About Freyd's research: http://dynamic.uoregon.edu/~jjf/institutionalbetrayal/index.html
Psychology department: http://psychweb.uoregon.edu/
Follow UO Science on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UniversityOfOregonScience
Note: The University of Oregon is equipped with an on-campus television studio with satellite uplink capacity, and a radio studio with an ISDN phone line for broadcast-quality radio interviews. Call the Media Contact above to begin the process.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/uoo-bbu022713.php
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While President Obama is in Georgia stumping for universal preschool, the real pathway to prosperity runs right through the home. "Study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road," the President insisted Tuesday. "And for poor kids who need help the most, this lack of access to preschool education can shadow them for the rest of their lives. So let's do what works and make sure none of our children start the race of life already behind."
With help from the state's highest ranking Eagle Scout, Gov. Rick Perry, Texas is rounding up plenty of support for the Boy Scouts' current policy. Close to 40 Lone Star State elected officials have signed an open letter to the organization, urging them to stand by a century of family values. "Capitulating to the liberal social agenda not only undermines the very principles of scouting, but sets the stage for the erosion of an organization that has defined the American experience for generations of young men," the group writes. "[T]he contemplated national policy [of allowing homosexuals] would throw to the wolves chartering organizations and scout troops that choose to stick with scouting's historic and legally protected policy... Rest assured that while adopting this ill-considered and wrongly devised policy might earn temporary kudos, you can never do enough to appease those who want to see the scouts robbed of their moral authority." Hats off to Texas and the other states, who are starting to rally their troops before the BSA's May vote.
Happy Valentine's Day, Cagereaders! In honor of the day, let's take a look at some reasons to love mixed martial arts.
~Making Flubber~
~There's always time for Shuffleboard~
