Table of Contents

Preface ix Acknowledgments xiii 1 Blind to Betrayal 1 2 Children Betrayed 10 3 The Wide Reach of Betrayal Blindness 20 4 Blind Adherence 35 5 Why Blindness? 49 6 Knowing and Not Knowing 62 7 Mental Gymnastics 71 8 Insights from Research 84 9 Betrayal Blindness Is Toxic 96 10 The Risks of Knowing 114 11 The Healing Power of Knowing 130 12 The Healing Power of Telling 141 13 Speaking Our Truth 153 14 Now I See: Facing Betrayal Blindness 162 Recommended Reading 175 Notes 177 Index 193

About the Author

JENNIFER FREYD, PhD , is one of the world's leading experts on betrayal and childhood abuse, and she has conducted substantial original research on the topic over the last decade. A tenured professor at the University of Oregon, Dr. Freyd wrote a classic professional book on betrayal, Betrayal Trauma . PAMELA BIRRELL, PhD , is a licensed clinical psychologist and senior instructor in the Psychology Department at the University of Oregon. She received her PhD in psychology from the University of Oregon in 1973.