In the documentary “Girls Incarcerated”, there are many girls who have experienced trauma and victimization. One girl who stands out is Ashley, who was sexually abused by her father from a young age. This abuse led to her developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which manifested in self-harming behaviors and substance abuse.
One theory that could explain Ashley’s behavior is the cycle of violence theory. This theory states that children who are abused are more likely to become abusers themselves. This is because they learn that violence is a way to cope with stress and to get what they want.
The cycle of violence theory is a good fit for Ashley’s case because she was abused by her father and then went on to abuse her own boyfriend. She also reported that she felt like she had to “toughen up” in order to survive in her environment. This suggests that she learned that violence was a way to cope with stress and to protect herself.
However, the cycle of violence theory does not explain everything about Ashley’s behavior. For example, it does not explain why she started self-harming or why she turned to substance abuse. These behaviors may be related to her PTSD, which is not fully explained by the cycle of violence theory.
Another theory that could help to explain Ashley’s behavior is the biopsychosocial model. This model states that behavior is influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. In Ashley’s case, her biological factors may include her genetic predisposition to PTSD. Her psychological factors may include her low self-esteem and her coping mechanisms for dealing with stress. Her social factors may include her exposure to violence and her lack of support from her family.
The biopsychosocial model is a more comprehensive theory than the cycle of violence theory because it takes into account all of the factors that could be contributing to Ashley’s behavior. However, it is also more complex and difficult to test.
Overall, the cycle of violence theory and the biopsychosocial model are both helpful in explaining Ashley’s behavior. However, the biopsychosocial model is a more comprehensive theory that takes into account all of the factors that could be contributing to her behavior.
