In this presentation, I show that when people commit acts of interpersonal violence, they think they are doing something good, at least for themselves and sometimes for others, too. As I show, there is nothing wrong with their goal. Who doesn’t want the consequences of their actions to result in something good? The problem with violence is that perpetrators’ idea of good has harmful consequences for others, and, in the long run, often for themselves. Policies, programs, and treatment approaches are likely to be more effective if they are premised on the idea that the purpose of violent acts is to being about something good. Programs, policies, and practices would affirm desires to bring about good for the self but would work on alternative ways of achieving the good. If perpetrators of interpersonal violence dig deep enough and feel safe and protected as they do, they will change strategies and let go of their beliefs that violence is a viable and even valid way to attain something good for themselves. This article concludes with recommendations for next steps in understanding perpetrators of interpersonal violence and for new approaches to interventions.
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Happiness Research,The Autonomous Nervous System, and Perpetrators of Interpersonal Violence
1. Happiness Research,
the Autonomic Nervous
System, & Perpetrators
of Interpersonal Violence
Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW
jgilgun@umn.edu
School of Social Work
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA
22 August 2014
2. Topics
Happiness Research
Autonomic Nervous System
Perpetrators of Interpersonal Violence
Meanings
Putting it All Together: Treatment
Responses
3. Definition of Happiness
We know it when we feel it
A sense that one’s life is meaningful and
fulfilling
Sonja Lyubomirsky: “the experience of joy,
contentment, or positive well-being,
combined with a sense that one’s life is good,
meaningful, and worthwhile.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HFL9MnGdrw#Sonja%20on%20what
%20is%20happiness
4. Qualities Associated
with Happiness
Good Relationships with Others
Manage Emotions Prosocially
Prosocial Beliefs/Moral Intelligence
Sense of Efficacy
Meaningful Work/Activities
Prosocial Actions
Being Mindful/in the Present
5. Qualities Associated with
Well-Being, a Synonym for
Happiness
Connection
Attunement
Trust
Autonomy
Love-Sexuality
Source: Laurence Heller & Aline LaPierre: The NeuroAffective
Relational Model™ [NARM]
6. Components of Happiness
Genes; 50%
Life Circumstances: 10%
Intentional activities that we can choose: 40%
Arise from
our interpretations of our experiences
How we interpret experiences filtered through our
neurobiological make-up
Source: Sonja Lyubomirsky & Jane Gilgu
7. Definition of Neurobiology
Neurobiology is genetics plus experience that
leads to formation of our nervous system
including neural circuits throughout the body
8. When These Components
are Compromised
Sense of self may be threatened
We may dysregulate if something triggers us
We seek solutions to the dysregulation
Solutions depend upon our interpretations of
prior experiences in combination with present
circumstances
Beliefs a huge factor here
Beliefs part of schemas
9. Reactive
& Instrumental Violence
Reactive: occurs during dysregulation
Instrumental: no dysregulation
Note: beliefs underlie both types of violence
Many people dysregulate, but a minority use
violence to re-regulate
10. Processes of Dysregulation
& Regulation
Automatic Activation of Memories
Dysregulation
Automatic Activation of Schemas
Re-Regulation Strategies
Pro-social Anti-Social Self-i
destructive
Inappropriate
Trigger Event
Search for Coping Strategies
11. Processes When
Dysregulation is not an Issue
Search for How To Get it
Bypass Prefrontal Cortex
Automatic Activation of Belief-Related Schemas
Pro-social Anti-Social Self-i
destructive
Inappropriate
Wanting Something
12. Beliefs
Basis of both reactive & instrumental
violence
Beliefs develop from interpretations of
prior experiences with input from
genetics
Most people with histories of complex
trauma do not have reactive
aggression/violence on a grand scale
13. Happiness as a Good Thing
Violence as a Good Thing
from Points of View of
Perpetrators
15. Three Components of Good
Excellence—doing something well
Engagement--flow
Ethics—care & benevolent consequences
Gardner, Csikszentmihalyi, and Damon (2001)
16. Moral Injury
Moral injury: “perpetrating, failing to prevent,
bearing witness to, or learning about acts that
transgress deeply held moral beliefs and
expectations.”
Common among combat veterans who have
violated their own moral codes when they kill
or witness others killing and being killed
Source: Litz et al (2009)
17. Ethics & Moral Injury
Also common among perpetrators of IPV
Most perpetrators of IPV have a moral code
from which they detach when they commit
acts of violence
When persons violate their own moral codes,
they risk moral injury.
18. Consequences of Moral Injury
Shame
Self-Hatred
Anticipation of Rejection, Disgust, Disdain
Behaviors Thought to be Solutions to a State
of Being Become Part of the Problem
Not all perpetrators of IPV have moral
injury—an unknown percentage see no
moral issues in their acts of violence
20. Autonomic Nervous System
Automatic
Usual Understandings of the ANS
Newer Understandings
Outside of our Awareness
“Shadow Self”
Freud’s Subconscious
Internalizations of Interpretations of Experiences
http://www.loveandtrauma.com/videos (4.27 minutes)
21. Autonomic Nervous System
Where reactivity is—responses to stress &
external stimuli in general
Where beliefs systems are
About self, others, & how the world works
What it means to be me and who others are
Entitlements
Big me, little you
What else?
22. Automatic Responses
Can Result in Good
Intuition is accurate almost by definition
Taps into subconscious wisdom
Consequences of actions based on intuition are
benevolent
Acting on impulse
Can also be good in terms of consequences
Or harmful in terms of consequences
24. Accessing the Autonomous
Nervous System
Requires the Safety of Secure Relationships
In therapeutic settings, requires trust and
good working relationships with therapists
and in group work with other group members
25. Accessing the Autonomous
Nervous System
Requires the Safety of Secure Relationships
Personal Requirements in Therapy
Willingness
Preparation: Therapists teach about
the process
self-regulation skills
26. Accessing the Autonomous
Nervous System
Techniques (a sample)
Meditation
Individual
Group
Guided
Yoga/relaxation techniques/tai chi
Journaling
Physical Exercise, Funny Movies, Recreation
Talk to Trusted Others
27. Sample Content of ANS
for Perpertrators of IPV
Many Beliefs are Embedded in the ANS
Basis of automatic actions, or actions that bypass
the prefrontal cortex (PFC)
Beliefs
This is how I get what I want
They deserve it/want it/like it
You do what I say
I’m entitled
28. Sample Content of ANS
for Perpertrators of IPV
Beliefs
This is how I get what I want
They deserve it/want it/like it
You do what I say
I’m entitled
Meanings
Subjective Experiences of Pleasure
Stopping Someone Else’s Unwanted Behaviors
Instrumental Goals
30. Violence as Good: Three Outcomes
that Perpetrators
Seek
Brings Pleasure and Release
Stops Unwanted Behaviors
Resolves Problematic Situations by Enforcing
Rules that Targets of Violence May or May
Not Share
31. Pleasure & Release:
“It feels good.”
“I love people to dress me up.”
“Rape is worth giving up a bundle for.”
A rush—arm full of dope
Incest: Bliss & Lasting Love
I’m on Top
A Way of Feeling Better
Anticipation of Sexual High
Like an Elephant Drops off Back (Release)
32. Cessation
of Unwanted Behaviors
Chuck: Stop wife Elise from turning off the
xBox in front of life-long friends
Herb: Not in mood to flirt
Mitchell: The rampage
33. Violence as Good:
Instrumental Goals
Resolve problematic situations
Enforce rules of drug and prostitution trades
Enforce rules of what happens to unfaithful wives
Killing kids for their own good
Killing kids to get back at wife (recent case in
Israel)
34. Other Good Outcomes
for Perpetrators
revenge, teaching a lesson, enforcing rules
self-protection, righting a wrong,
getting something over with, shoring up their
self-respect,
solving a problem.
35. Where Does Interpersonal
Violence Come Fron?
Pro-violence ideologies that are widely held & well-represented
in mass media and in millions of
individuals
Persons internalize these ideologies
Long-term non-sharing of personal, painful issues—
lack of emotional expressiveness
Disconnection from humanity of others and of the self
at time of violence
No effective challenges to activated thoughts/images
that lead to harm of others
36. • What to Do?
Treatment Approaches
Involve Connecting to
& Managing the ANS
Best ways to Access ANS is
through meditation & relaxation
techniques
Sharing of What Persons
Access in the ANS
37. Treatment Goals:
Reactive Aggression
Self-Regulation
Foundational changes in ANS
Create High Road Responses
Reason, emotion, actions connected
Connection to consequences/ethics
For self
For others
Connect to Physical and Emotional Core That
Reside in the ANS
Mindfulness: The internal flow of experience
38. Instrumental Violence
Persons who commit instrumental violence
are unlikely to have moral injury
are unlikely to have issues with self-regulation
when reminded of instrumental violence
They can still benefit from working with content of
the ANS
39. Some Therapeutic Principles
Dual awareness
Content of client narratives
Emotional/physiological responses
find and work with areas of pleasure
satisfaction, or better functioning
Help clients stay connected to their
physiological responses when they have
them
Source: Heller & Lapierre (2012)
40. Possible Components
of Therapy
Use These at Beginning & Throughout
Therapy
Identify Positive Resources
Teach Self-Regulation Skills for Reactors
Includes Meditation and so Fits Instrumentalists
41. Approaches That Access ANS
Group, Individual Work, & Family Work
Relationships (Perlman, NARN, Common Factors
Model)
Teach Self-Regulation Techniques First
Psychological safety is first
Very Brief Guided meditation in Group Settings
Share content of ANS with Trusted Others
Homework
Identify & challenge belief systems of external environment
Concept maps
Identifying positive resources
42. Possible Components of
Treatment of Moral Injury
Connection—Therapeutic Relationship
Therapists imagine the kinds of experiences that have
led to the moral injury (!!!!!)
Therapist neutrality
Educate & Prepare Clients for the Process
Brief Exposure/A Kind of Meditation
Examination Meanings & Implications
Dialogue with a Benevolent & Respected Person
Reparation/Good Deeds
43. Treatment of Moral Injury
For Persons Who Have It
Reparation & Forgiveness
Fostering Reconnection
Long-Term Planning
Source: Litz et al (2009)
44. Daily Practice
Meditation half hour a day on positive
emotions such as kindness and compassion
This changes the brain & ANS
Gratitude
Forgiveness
Relationships
Savoring present moment
45. Possible Framework
Group Work
3-4 members
Identify positive resources
Relaxation exercises
Guided meditation—a few minutes
Check-in; Need any self-regulation?
Share content of meditation
Relaxation exercises
Identify positive resources
46. Daily Practices
Regarding Actions
Write About/Meditate on
Positive consequences
Negative consequences
Are consequences worth it?
What would happen if you did the opposite?
Talk to someone about what you’d like to do
Like your grandmother
Wait at least two days
47. Possible Framework
Imaginary Conversations with Admired Other
Persons
Sharing in Group
Connecting and Reconnecting with
Spiritually-Based Groups
12 step groups
Spiritual communities
Learning to Do Something Really well
48. Summary
Perpetrators of IPV Seek Something Good
For Themselves
Source of Violent Actions is in ANS
Violent Actions Violate Ethical Principles
Can Result in Moral Injury
Treatment Goal: Access ANS
Approaches to Do So
Raise awareness of content of ANS
Mindfulness exercises
49. References
Athens, Lonnie (1997). Violent criminal acts and actors revisited. Champaign: University of Illinois Press.
Gardner, Howard E., Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, & William Damon (2001). Good work: When excellence and
ethics meet. New York: Basic.
Corrigan, Frank M., J.J. Fisher, & D. J. Nutt (2011) Autonomic dysregulation and the Window of Tolerance
model of the effects of complex emotional trauma. American Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25(1), 17–25.
Gilgun, Jane F. (1995). We shared something special: The moral discourse of incest perpetrators. Journal of
Marriage and the Family, 57, 265-281.
Gilgun, Jane F. (1999b). Fingernails painted red: A feminist, semiotic analysis of "hot" text, Qualitative Inquiry,
5, 181-207.
Gilgun, Jane F. (2008). Lived experience, reflexivity, and research on perpetrators of interpersonal violence.
Qualitative Social Work, 7(2), 181-197.
Gilgun, Jane F. (2013a). Brokenness, Beliefs, and Spirituality. Amazon Kindle.
Happiness Research website: http://www.amazon.com/Brokenness-Beliefs-Spirituality-Jane-GILGUN-ebook/
dp/B00DVMVUGW
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/happiness/definition
Heller, Laurence & Aline LaPierre (2012). Healing developmental trauma. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books
Katz, Jack (1988). The seductions of crime. New York: Basic.
Litz, Brett T. et al (2009). Moral Injury and moral repair in war veterans: a preliminary model and intervention
strategy,” Clinical Psychology Review 29 (8), 695–706, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19683376
Lyubomirsky, Sonja (2008). The how of happiness. New York: Penguin
Pargament, Kenneth I. (2007). Spiritually integrated psychotherapy. New York: Guilford.