Chronic Invalidation
Also referred to as Social Invalidation, Emotional Invalidation and Traumatic invalidation
Coaches need to be aware of the impact of Chronic Invalidation and how it can persist in organisational cultures and systems.
Coaches are well placed to help clients identify invalidation in their workplace and other group memberships.
We help leaders and clients develop awareness and identify appropriate strategies to surface the issues. Coaches support clients to challenge systems and recover from the harm caused by Chronic Invalidation.
Why is Validation Crucial for Humans?
Social validation is at the core of our social system, humans are social beings and rely on group acceptance for survival (social synchronization) (Prof Martin Bohus, 2023).
What is Chronic Invalidation?
Receiving the message that one’s thoughts, feelings or behaviour are unacceptable, insignificant, somehow wrong.
Invalidation is type of social wounding, ranging from hurtful to traumatic, depending on past experiences, susceptibility, intensity and protective factors.
Having one’s opinions, work, appearance, physical presence ignored, dismissed and diminished, either privately or publicly.
What are the Effects of Chronic Invalidation?
Results in constant state of uncertainty and vigilance, inability to accurately interpret messages from others and even one’s own messages.
Continuous fear of rejection, abandonment, ostracism leads to constant anxiety and mistrust, and doesn’t appear to switch off once activated.
How is Chronic Invalidation different from Shame?
Neuroscientists think this affects different brain circuitry to shame or PTSD, and requires a different treatment strategy.
Can appear in subtle forms in organisations, but is pervasive ie. Becomes "the way we talk to eg. Sam… the trainee… the IT guy".
It may trigger a person’s prior experience of othering, or may come as a complete shock if it’s their first ever experience.
How does Chronic Invalidation link to other forms of discrimination and oppression?
Maybe experienced by individuals as discrimination and oppression on grounds of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age (too young/too old) and therefore be doubly wounding.
Coaches are well placed to help clients identify invalidation in their workplace and other group memberships.
We help leaders and clients develop awareness and identify appropriate strategies to surface the issues. Coaches support clients to challenge systems and recover from the harm caused by Chronic Invalidation.
Why is Validation Crucial for Humans?
Social validation is at the core of our social system, humans are social beings and rely on group acceptance for survival (social synchronization) (Prof Martin Bohus, 2023).
What is Chronic Invalidation?
Receiving the message that one’s thoughts, feelings or behaviour are unacceptable, insignificant, somehow wrong.
Invalidation is type of social wounding, ranging from hurtful to traumatic, depending on past experiences, susceptibility, intensity and protective factors.
Having one’s opinions, work, appearance, physical presence ignored, dismissed and diminished, either privately or publicly.
What are the Effects of Chronic Invalidation?
Results in constant state of uncertainty and vigilance, inability to accurately interpret messages from others and even one’s own messages.
Continuous fear of rejection, abandonment, ostracism leads to constant anxiety and mistrust, and doesn’t appear to switch off once activated.
How is Chronic Invalidation different from Shame?
Neuroscientists think this affects different brain circuitry to shame or PTSD, and requires a different treatment strategy.
Can appear in subtle forms in organisations, but is pervasive ie. Becomes "the way we talk to eg. Sam… the trainee… the IT guy".
It may trigger a person’s prior experience of othering, or may come as a complete shock if it’s their first ever experience.
How does Chronic Invalidation link to other forms of discrimination and oppression?
Maybe experienced by individuals as discrimination and oppression on grounds of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age (too young/too old) and therefore be doubly wounding.