“Perhaps nothing so accurately characterizes dysfunctional families as denial.” — John Bradshaw Abuse-survivors Copy Share Image
I believe that this neglected, wounded, inner child of the past is the major source of human misery. — John Bradshaw Believe Copy Share Image
You can find more traditional Shakespeare than we do. But what we want to bring to these works is energy, passion, freshness. — John Bradshaw Energy Copy Share Image
“CONVERSION I spoke of affect and need conversion when I described how Max compensated for his abusive and neglectful abandonment by converting… — John Bradshaw Communication Copy Share Image
“During school age, the bright, shame-based child will attempt to develop inhuman ego defenses or defending scripts, such as perfectionism, blaming, criticizing,… — John Bradshaw Character Copy Share Image
“PERFECTIONISM Perfectionism is a family system rule and a core culprit in creating toxic shame. We see it also in both the… — John Bradshaw Family Copy Share Image
Children are curious and are risk takers. They have lots of courage. They venture out into a world that is immense and… — John Bradshaw Child abuse Copy Share Image
“PEER GROUP SHAMING I remember Arnold. He was a brilliant accountant. He had been viciously shamed in high school. His presenting problem… — John Bradshaw Finding fault Copy Share Image
“SHAME AS THE CORE AND FUEL OF ALL ADDICTION Neurotic shame is the root and fuel of all compulsive/addictive behaviors. My general… — John Bradshaw Addiction Copy Share Image
“According to Pia Mellody, when “one parent has a relationship with the child that is more important than the relationship he or… — John Bradshaw Children Copy Share Image
“Alice Miller writes: There are large numbers of people who suffer from narcissistic disorders, who often had sensitive and caring parents from… — John Bradshaw Gifts and talents Copy Share Image
“Guilt is our morality shame and guards our conscience. It tells us we have transgressed our values. It moves us to take… — John Bradshaw Character Copy Share Image
“It is very common for one or both parents in a dysfunctional marriage to bond inappropriately with one of their children. The… — John Bradshaw Children Copy Share Image
“All human development, according to Silvan Tompkins, is rooted in affect (feeling) dynamics because affects (feelings) are the primary innate biological motivator… — John Bradshaw Anger Copy Share Image
“With the child already shame-based, the feeling of discouragement takes over the whole personality. As the shame-based child forms her primitive conscience,… — John Bradshaw Children Copy Share Image
“Most cat owners nowadays expect their cat to live wherever the owners choose. Perhaps not fully understanding the cat’s need to form… — John Bradshaw Copy Share Image
“The shared secret and the shared denial are the most horrible aspects of incest.” — John Bradshaw Abusive father Copy Share Image
“The poisonous pedagogy justifies highly abusive methods for suppressing children’s vital spontaneity: physical beatings, lying, duplicity, manipulation, scare tactics, withdrawal of love,… — John Bradshaw Children Copy Share Image
“CHIEF COMPONENT The chief component in the family system is the marriage. If the marriage is healthy and functional, the family will… — John Bradshaw Family Copy Share Image
“Dissmell is the affect that monitors our drive for hunger. It was primarily developed as a survival mechanism. As we’ve become more… — John Bradshaw Motivation Copy Share Image
“Playing roles and acting are forms of lying. If people act like they really feel and it rocks the boat, they are… — John Bradshaw Acting Copy Share Image
“Grandiosity results from the human will becoming disabled. The will is disabled primarily through the shaming of the emotions. The shamed and… — John Bradshaw Psychology Copy Share Image
Science has so far been unable to tell us how self-aware dogs are, much less whether they have anything like our conscious… — John Bradshaw Agree Copy Share Image
“3. The child is allowed to experience and express ordinary impulses, such as jealousy, rage, sexuality and defiance, because the parents have… — John Bradshaw Children Copy Share Image
“Shyness can become a serious problem when it is rooted in toxic shame.” — John Bradshaw Copy Share Image
