A child in an extremely abusive family situation often seems to become deaf to the verbal abuse, and insensitive to the physical abuse, as if the child simply wasn't there experiencing the abuse. One explanation of this behavior is:

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Self-hypnosis is a psychological defense mechanism that allows the child to dissociate or mentally escape from the abusive situation. This can lead to a numbing of emotions and a lack of responsiveness to the abuse.

A Child in an Extremely Abusive Family Situation Often Seems