The relationship of compliance with a background of childhood neglect and physical and sexual abuse

Immediate and delayed suggestibility among suspected child victims of sexual abuse

“…Life adversity, including a history of child abuse, is associated with a young person's vulnerability to give a false confession to police during interviewing (Gudjonsson, Sigurdsson, Sigfusdottir, & Young, 2012), which suggests that history of significant life adversity may be associated with traits of compliance and suggestibility. In one study among patients receiving treatment for substance misuse, trait compliance was found to be the single best predictor of childhood history of sexual abuse (Gudjonsson, Sigurdsson, & Tryggvadottir, 2011). As far as suggestibility is concerned, the work of Kim Drake and her colleagues show that life adversity is associated with increased suggestibility on the GSS (Drake, 2010a, 2010b, Drake, Bull, & Boon, 2008.…”

How Trauma May Magnify Risk of Involuntary and False Confessions Among Adolescents

“…Compliance, or the tendency to accede to requests or demands, is certainly relevant to interrogations because typical maximization techniques involve police repeatedly demanding that the suspect "tell the truth" and interrupting all denials or explanations. In correlational research with community adults, both Drake (2010) and Gudjonsson et al (2011) reported associations between a history of negative life events and increased compliance. Gudjonsson et al (2011) proposed that the association is mediated by an insecure attachment style, which is correlated with childhood maltreatment.…”

“…In correlational research with community adults, both Drake (2010) and Gudjonsson et al (2011) reported associations between a history of negative life events and increased compliance. Gudjonsson et al (2011) proposed that the association is mediated by an insecure attachment style, which is correlated with childhood maltreatment. Insecurely attached individuals may engage in desperate attempts to win or retain approval of a respected other, leading them "to prioritize relationship preservation over self-protection" (Noll & Grych, 2011, p. 206)including, perhaps, by confessing to an interrogating officer in order to win approval or avoid disapproval.…”

Early Life Circumstances as Contributors to HIV Infection

“…Given this population’s young age, an examination of their early family environment or the settings in which they were raised, and of the quality of the adult supervision and care they received is a useful starting point for understanding these factors. Indeed, in the last two decades, there has been a rapid proliferation of research linking early family environment and adverse life experiences (such as sexual, physical, or emotional abuse; unstable housing; or parental substance abuse or mental illness) with subsequent problems including depression, suicide attempts, low-self-esteem, sexual risk behavior, and substance use/abuse (Gudjonsson, Sigurdsson, & Tryggvadóttir, 2011; Joiner et al, 2007; Jones et al, 2010; Shin, Miller, & Teicher, 2013; Teicher, Samson, Polcari, & Andersen, 2009). …”