nobody:
How do negative events in early childhood development effect morality and spirituality? For instance, some sources say that conscience is developed between the ages of 6 and 8 years. So, what happens if there is an event in the child’s life that skews their learning at that time? Or, what if the child is raised in a (bad) orphanage, and never learns to attach or trust other people? How do these events effect their spirituality and acceptance of religious teaching? What can actually be considered a “sin” for these children - when they are children and when they are later adults? What does this say about free will? Are we all just victims of our upbringing?
Does anyone have any good literature recommendations for me on this topic?
Thank you.
I don’t pretend to know all the answers to your questions, but I can speak a little from experience. In my field as a social worker, I have worked (and am working) with dozens of kids who have attachment disorders. One of the primary characteristics of reactive attachment disorder is lack of conscience. First, I’ll say it takes some significant trauma, abuse, or neglect in a child’s life at an early age to really bring on a disorder like this in most cases.
Second, it’s been my experience (and I’ve heard this from other professionals as well) that most kids with severe attachment problems have a very negative view of God and their existence. This makes a lot of sense, because often from their earliest experiences they did not know humans and especially adults to care for them, keep them safe, and love them. They grew up with a basic mistrust of people, so why would they have any feelings of love for the one who created humans?
I think these kids are less culpable for their actions; generally they are bearing the brunt of others’ sins.
Now this is not a cop-out to say that these children are hopeless; some of my colleagues imply that many of these children should not have been born. The truth is that these kids can get help and get better; they can learn empathy for others and how to attach to a caregiver. They can develop a conscience. It takes some serious, serious hard work, love and courage from everything I’ve witnessed but it can be done. Pray for more professionals to work with these kids and more people to be called to foster and adopt these children.
I highly recommend “Building the Bonds of Love” by Daniel Hughes. It’s a story of a child with reactive attachment disorder and her journey through life and the help she receives. It’s amazing.
