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MALTATODAY 24 March 2024

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25 Unity SUNDAY 24 MARCH 2024 The role of unprocessed trauma in criminality Gail Debono M.Phil./Ph.D. Candidate Department of Criminology ADVERSITY can be classified into two adaptive problems: threat which is denoted by harm imposed by others, and depri- vation, denoted by insufficient environmental input. When people experience trauma, some may have the necessary life in- frastructure to develop healthy coping mechanisms to it, where- as there will be others to whom no such resources are available and for whom the traumatic event, or often multiple events, forces them to develop a nega- tivistic view of others, the world around them, and ultimately themselves. Such people may adopt means of coping which may develop into psychological risk factors for offending, known as criminogenic needs. The ex- perience of adversity during formative childhood years may result in issues with the develop- ment of one's personality, lead- ing to problematic behaviour. This pathway starts with the experience of adversity, neces- sitating survival, which prompts the person to develop function- al responses. These responses, when exercised, cause neurolog- ical changes in the brain, and the result is the cognitive, emotional and social development of the person. Drug and alcohol use are a common means of escaping the effects of past trauma, increasing the risk of the user entering a vi- cious cycle of crime and re-trau- matisation. In fact, there is high correlation between having ex- perienced adversity in the first years of life and substance mis- use later on. Early trauma may result in lat- er crimongenic behaviour via a number of mechanisms. One is the neurological impact that trauma may have. Prolonged stress impacts the functions of the brain's prefrontal cortex, for example polyvagal theory postulates that one who is con- sistently exposed to trauma may shut down their prefrontal cor- tex for periods at a time in order to respond to the fight/flight/ freeze instinct, during which time behaviour and emotional regulation and complex brain operations are impossible. Another mechanism is attach- ment. When attachment is dis- rupted by maltreatment from the attachment figure, the de- velopment of interpersonal re- lationships, self-regularisation, mentalisation and the develop- ment of self-concept are stunt- ed. Those abused by attachment figures dissociate from their emotions in order to be able to maintain the attachment they need so badly with the abusive figure. The sense of loss, rejec- tion and envy caused by mal- treatment by care providers may drive victims to exert antisocial behaviour in an effort to exert control over others that they not feel that they have on their own lives. The third mechanism is the cognitive and attitudinal impact of trauma. Those who suffer abuse are more likely to develop a negative view of themselves, others and life in general. This may result in unruly behaviour as a defence mechanism. This unruly behaviour will cause the child to suffer alienation and more rejection which will only fuel the behaviour even more. The penultimate mechanism is that of social learning and abu- sive behaviour. Those who are exposed to abuse learn to be abusive to others. The last of the mechanisms are those of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. These can be a result of any of the above traumas. Symptoms of PTSD are strongly correlated with an increase in frequency and severity of delinquent and antisocial behaviour. Traumatised persons will con- tinue to seek refuge in what is fa- miliar, gravitating towards trau- matic life situations that re-enact their original traumas. This has implications towards rehabilita- tion and reintegration in a small island state where it is almost inevitable that one returns to their originating situations after serving a custodial sentence. It also explains why some people who rehabilitate and reintegrate pro-socially back into a commu- nity, are still at risk of returning to a criminogenic lifestyle. This is, however, not to say that there is total correlation be- tween trauma and crime. Many traumatised individuals do not exhibit criminogenic behav- iours. There are individual and social protective factors that may mediate a non-criminogen- ic lifestyle. Individual protective factors are such as having a level of self-control; low depression; and a positive sense of identity. Social protective factors are such as high achievement – either ac- ademically or in employment – and positive relationships. Education variables such as en- gagement, achievement and graduation lower the risk of the development of criminality after trauma. The link between trauma and crime has strong implications for the way the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in Malta operates. When any CJS is not trauma-in- formed, it stands to traumatise people further. From the mo- ment of arrest; to the methods of interrogation; to detention practices; to court procedure; to the processes of custodial and non-custodial sentences – from start to termination of sentence; and to the rehabilitation and re- integration practices during and post termination of sentence, the system can be traumatising and retraumatising for those with a history of trauma – which as it turns out is the majority of peo- ple within a CJS. The narrative within a non-trauma-informed CJS is generally one that labels clients by their problems rather than consider their behaviour as a result of whatever happened to them. This risks further prop- agating the cycle of shame that these people are already all too familiar with. The focus should be on the needs underlying their unruly behaviour. Adopting trauma-informed practices, which are now com- mon practice in countries like Norway, which boasts the lowest rate of recidivism in the world, and the United Kingdom where trauma-informed practice is spreading through the CJS, would give us a far better chance at rehabilitation and at the suc- cessful reintegration of those who enter any part of the Mal- tese Criminal Justice System. INTERESTED in learning more about crime, crimi- nals, and society's reaction to them? Why not come and read a degree in criminolo- gy where we address these and other issues? A degree in criminology prepares you to work in the criminal justice field (policing, corrections, and the courts), in combat- ting financial crime and in gaming to mention a few ar- eas of interest. Reference List Buss, D.M., (2006). The murder next door: Why the mind is de- signed to kill. Penguin Books Lettieri, R., (2021, September 26). Why the hell are we so in- terested in crime stories: What does it tell us about ourselves... h t t p s : / / c r i m e p s y c h o l o g i s t . c o m / 2 0 2 1 / 0 9 / 2 6 / w h y - t h e - hell-are-we-so-interested-in- crime-stories-and-what-does- it-tell-us-about-ourselves/ Vicary, A. M., & Fraley, R. C. (2010). Captured by true crime: Why are women drawn to tales of rape, murder, and serial kill- ers? Social Psychological and Personality Science, 1(1), 81- 86. What is one item you cannot live without? Food. Do you believe in God? Yes. Do you have pets? Yes, a parrot and a rabbit. Should animals have the same rights as people? Yes, the important thing is that they are not hurt. What is your favourite meal and drink? Maltese meat roast and wine. What is one value in life that guides you? Sincerity. Which is your favourite season? Definitely summer!

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