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Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates

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Published on: January 27, 2019

The missionary syndrome.

R O Sexton¹, R C Maddock

¹The University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences, USA.

Journal of Religion and Health

|December 7, 2013

Summary

Traumatic early sexual experiences can lead to repressed guilt, potentially causing depression or phobias later in life. This psychological response is termed the Missionary Syndrome.

Area of Science:

Psychology
Psychiatry
Child Development

Background:

Early childhood sexual experiences, especially traumatic ones, are often internalized as "bad" or "wrong."
This labeling leads to repression of these experiences and associated guilt.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the psychological pathway from repressed guilt due to early trauma to later-onset psychopathology.
To define and describe the "Missionary Syndrome" as a specific manifestation of this pathway.

Main Methods:

The study likely involved case studies or retrospective analysis of individuals presenting with specific symptoms.
Analysis of the psychological impact of repressed guilt and later-life commitments.

Main Results:

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Repressed guilt from early sexual trauma can be intensified by later incidents.

Unfulfilled commitments to serve God, made to alleviate guilt, can trigger depression, phobias, or conversion symptoms.

Conclusions:

The "Missionary Syndrome" is a psychopathological response linked to unresolved guilt from early sexual trauma.
Understanding this syndrome is crucial for effective psychological and psychiatric treatment.