Article 3c: Pass it on? The neural responses to rejection in the context of a family study on maltreatment (van den Berg et al., 2018)

Question 1

The design of the study

Answer 1

This study looked at the neural responses of social rejection in people with a history of childhood neglect.

Question 2

Main results

Answer 2

• Exclusion by strangers was associated with increased activation in the left insula, ACC and dmPFC.
• Exclusion by family was associated with increased activation in the ACC.
• In abused parents, altered neural activity was found during exclusion, indicating different neural correlates of experiences and perpetrated maltreatment.
• There were no mechanisms found to be involved in the transmission of maltreatment onto the next generation.

Question 3

Intergenerational transmission

Answer 3

• Experienced ABUSE is a significant predictor for perpetrated abuse.
• Experienced NEGLECT is not a significant predictor for perpetrated neglect.

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

People with a history of neglect were hypersensitive to social rejection by strangers.

Question 5

Important

Answer 5

These findings underscore the importance to distinguish between the effect of abuse and the effect of neglect. Rejection and maltreatment by your own parents extends beyond the family context.