Page 11 - NARM Model for Working with Affect

NARM Affect Core Principle: Anger & Aggression
§Early abuse, neglect, misattunement lead to protest, aggression, rage §The intent of these emotional responses is to impact and change the
environment: to get one’s needs attended to and met
§Anger and aggression towards caregivers is frightening for the young child for three main reasons:
1. For many children, expressing anger or aggression at the parents is a real threat as it provokes reprisal
2. It directly threatens the attachment relationship and thus is experienced as an internal threat: Attachment is life itself, so the loss of the attachment relationship feels like death
3. The energetics of anger can be very intense and potentially overwhelming, particularly for a still-developing child
NARM Model for Working with Affect Laurence Heller, PhD & Brad J Kammer, LMFT, LPCC 13