betrayal

Betrayal is the violation of trust or safety by someone a person depends on, creating a painful rupture in attachment and meaning. In therapy, it is often described as betrayal trauma, including betrayal by parents or partners that undermines a person's sense of security and self.

It can involve deception, infidelity, abuse, neglect, broken promises, or gaslighting. Common reactions include shock, shame, hypervigilance, self-blame, dissociation, and difficulty trusting. In families with a toxic parent, repeated boundary violations can shape survival patterns like minimization or people-pleasing. Therapeutically, betrayal is viewed as an attachment injury; exploration often centers on the narrative of the rupture, emotional and bodily responses, and the gradual rebuilding of reliable boundaries and trust.