This paper examines the notion of trauma-organized systems, which sees the perpetrator of abuse organizing reality by blaming the child for triggering his response. Meanwhile children attribute actions of the perpetrator to themselves, and are also perceived as cause by parents who should be protective. This theme is explored through research on children who have been sexually abused, and who sexually abuse other children. The mental health of the abused child depends in part on the extensiveness of abuse, and in part on whether the child is believed, and supported following diagnosis. Sexual abuse is a factor in triggering abusive action in abused children, but early experience of physical violence, and a mother who has herself grown up in a climate of violence are the factors which lead to an abusive orientation towards younger children. The implications for therapeutic work is examined in these studies with the necessity emerging for good protective work, re-parenting of seriously abused and abusing children, specific trauma and offence orientated therapy, and a general approach which reverses the effects of living in a trauma organized system.
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