Fig. 2: Flexible biobehavioral synchrony processes altered by childhood maltreatment in the form of threat and deprivation.

Figure 2 depicts the hypothesized effects of maltreatment on the development (infancy—childhood) and deployment (adulthood) of flexible biobehavioral synchrony (biobehavioral synchrony). We suggest the potential for threat and deprivation to exert differential effects on biobehavioral synchrony depending on whether (i.) violations of the self–other boundary have occurred that hindered the development of a clear distinction of self from other (e.g., sexual, emotional, and physical abuse), in turn increasing the risk for maladaptive affective merging (fusion) throughout the lifespan or whether (ii.) experiences of blurring of the SOD have been limited which can increase the risk for rigid, inflexible synchrony and potential affective cut-off. We suggest that rigid affective merging and cut-off are exaggerated responses on the continuum of synchrony and segregation.