Childhood trauma and its effect on adult relationships in It Ends with Us
Abstract
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover is a novel inspired by the author’s personal experience witnessing her mother endure domestic violence. The story follows Lily Bloom, a woman who grew up in an abusive household and later faces similar patterns in her adult romantic relationship. This study analyzes Lily’s psychological development using Anna Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, particularly focusing on defense mechanisms. The objective is to explore how Lily’s unresolved childhood trauma influences her thought processes and decision-making in adulthood. Through a qualitative method, the study examines narrative passages and character dialogues from the novel to identify psychological patterns. The analysis focuses on five of Anna Freud’s defense mechanisms: repression, denial, rationalization, displacement, and suppression, highlighting how Lily both consciously and unconsciously relies on these strategies to cope with trauma. The findings reveal that Lily’s exposure to domestic violence as a child profoundly impacts her adult emotional responses, making it difficult for her to confront abuse, assert boundaries, or think rationally in her relationship. Ultimately, the study emphasizes how defense mechanisms serve as psychological tools to shield individuals from the lasting effects of childhood trauma, as reflected in Lily’s behavior and emotional struggles throughout the novel.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Bailey, R., & Pico, J. (2025). Defense mechanisms. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing LLC. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26583439
Barker, P. (1991). Regeneration. Viking Press.
Caruth, C. (2016). Unclaimed experience: Trauma, narrative, and history. John Hopkins Univeristy Press.
Claney, C. (2024, November 21). Understanding defense mechanisms and why we have them. Relational Psych. https://www.relationalpsych.group/articles/understanding-defense-mechanisms-and-why-we-have-them
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.
Donia, R. M. (2022). Childhood trauma and the quest for self-realization in Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child. International Journal of Childhood and Women’s Studies, 2(2), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.21608/ijcws.2022.140294.1011
Downey, C., & Crummy, A. (2022). The impact of childhood trauma on children’s wellbeing and adult behavior. European Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2021.100237
Freud, A. (2018). The ego and the mechanisms of defence. Routledge.
Heidarizadeh, N. (2015). The significant role of trauma in literature and psychoanalysis. Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences, 192, 788–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.06.093
Hoover, C. (2016). It Ends with Us. Atria Books.
Hornor, G. (2019). Attachment disorders. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 33(5), 612–622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.04.017
Hudáková, K. (2020). Childhood trauma and its aftermath in Anne Enright’s The Gathering and Trezza Azzopardi’s The Hiding Place. Charles University in Prague.
Ingerslev, L. R. (2024). Tendency, repetition, and the activity of the mind in traumatic experiences. Human Studies, 47(1), 207–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10746-024-09717-6
Intarini, N. G. A., & Thohiriyah (2024). Social avoidance in modern society in Sad Girls by Lang Leav. Eltin Journal, 12(2), 235-246. https://e-journal.stkipsiliwangi.ac.id/index.php/eltin/article/view/4790
LaCapra, D. (2014). Writing history, writing trauma. John Hopkins University Press.
Larsen, E. M., Ospina, L. H., Cuesta-Diaz, A., Vian-Lains, A., Nitzburg, G. C., Mulaimovic, S., Latifoglu, A., Clari, R., & Burdick, K. E. (2019). Effects of childhood trauma on adult moral decision-making: Clinical correlates and insights from bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 244, 180–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.10.002
Levine, T. R. . (2014). Encyclopedia of deception. Credo Reference, SAGE.
Marschall, A. (2025, November 8). Understanding intergenerational trauma and its effects on mental health. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-integenerational-trauma-5211898
Marwenti, T. (2020). Analysis of defense mechanism in Simon vs the Homo Sapiens agenda novel. Literary Criticism, 6(1), 23-28. https://jurnal.unived.ac.id/index.php/jlc/article/view/1256
Novrianti, F. O. (2025). Analysis of psychological conflict of the main character in the “The Rocking Horse Winner” short story. [Bachelor Thesis, Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu]. http://repository.unived.ac.id/id/eprint/1656
Patel, J., & Patel, P. (2019). Consequences of repression of emotion: Physical health, mental health and general well being. International Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research, 1(3), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2574-612x.ijpr-18-2564
Perennia, R. F. (2022). Childhood trauma and its effects on Charlie, the main character in The Perks of a Wallflower novel. Sultan Agung Islamic University Semarang.
Perrotta, G. (2019). Anxiety disorders: Definitions, contexts, neural correlates and strategic therapy. JJ Neur Neurosci, 6(1): 042. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Giulio-Perrotta/publication/344425850_Anxiety_Disorders_Definitions_Contexts_Neural_Correlates_And_Strategic_Therapy/links/5f74184d92851c14bca04303/Anxiety-Disorders-Definitions-Contexts-Neural-Correlates-And-Strategic-Therapy.pdf
Salman, A. P., & Marlina, L. (2022). The Effect of childhood trauma in Joseph Moldover’s novel Every Moment After (2019). English Language and Literature, 11(2), 201-208. https://doi.org/10.24036/ell.v11i2.117791
Smith, M., & South, S. (2019). Romantic attachment style and borderline personality pathology: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 75, 101781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101781
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Group.
Villines, D. (2025, July 14). Repressed emotions: Signs and impact. MedicalNewsToday. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/repressed-emotions
Wardani, M. S. (2022). Childhood traumatic experience and its contribution to personality develompment in Stephen Chbosky The Perks of Being a Wallflower novel: A behaviorists perspective. [Bachelor Thesis, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta]. http://eprints.ums.ac.id/id/eprint/101881
Zulfaisya, R., & Hasra, H. (2020). Defense mechanism of the main character in Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak Novel. Bahtera: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra, 19(2), 313–335. https://doi.org/10.21009/bahtera.192.08
Barker, P. (1991). Regeneration. Viking Press.
Caruth, C. (2016). Unclaimed experience: Trauma, narrative, and history. John Hopkins Univeristy Press.
Claney, C. (2024, November 21). Understanding defense mechanisms and why we have them. Relational Psych. https://www.relationalpsych.group/articles/understanding-defense-mechanisms-and-why-we-have-them
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.
Donia, R. M. (2022). Childhood trauma and the quest for self-realization in Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child. International Journal of Childhood and Women’s Studies, 2(2), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.21608/ijcws.2022.140294.1011
Downey, C., & Crummy, A. (2022). The impact of childhood trauma on children’s wellbeing and adult behavior. European Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2021.100237
Freud, A. (2018). The ego and the mechanisms of defence. Routledge.
Heidarizadeh, N. (2015). The significant role of trauma in literature and psychoanalysis. Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences, 192, 788–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.06.093
Hoover, C. (2016). It Ends with Us. Atria Books.
Hornor, G. (2019). Attachment disorders. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 33(5), 612–622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.04.017
Hudáková, K. (2020). Childhood trauma and its aftermath in Anne Enright’s The Gathering and Trezza Azzopardi’s The Hiding Place. Charles University in Prague.
Ingerslev, L. R. (2024). Tendency, repetition, and the activity of the mind in traumatic experiences. Human Studies, 47(1), 207–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10746-024-09717-6
Intarini, N. G. A., & Thohiriyah (2024). Social avoidance in modern society in Sad Girls by Lang Leav. Eltin Journal, 12(2), 235-246. https://e-journal.stkipsiliwangi.ac.id/index.php/eltin/article/view/4790
LaCapra, D. (2014). Writing history, writing trauma. John Hopkins University Press.
Larsen, E. M., Ospina, L. H., Cuesta-Diaz, A., Vian-Lains, A., Nitzburg, G. C., Mulaimovic, S., Latifoglu, A., Clari, R., & Burdick, K. E. (2019). Effects of childhood trauma on adult moral decision-making: Clinical correlates and insights from bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 244, 180–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.10.002
Levine, T. R. . (2014). Encyclopedia of deception. Credo Reference, SAGE.
Marschall, A. (2025, November 8). Understanding intergenerational trauma and its effects on mental health. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-integenerational-trauma-5211898
Marwenti, T. (2020). Analysis of defense mechanism in Simon vs the Homo Sapiens agenda novel. Literary Criticism, 6(1), 23-28. https://jurnal.unived.ac.id/index.php/jlc/article/view/1256
Novrianti, F. O. (2025). Analysis of psychological conflict of the main character in the “The Rocking Horse Winner” short story. [Bachelor Thesis, Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu]. http://repository.unived.ac.id/id/eprint/1656
Patel, J., & Patel, P. (2019). Consequences of repression of emotion: Physical health, mental health and general well being. International Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research, 1(3), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2574-612x.ijpr-18-2564
Perennia, R. F. (2022). Childhood trauma and its effects on Charlie, the main character in The Perks of a Wallflower novel. Sultan Agung Islamic University Semarang.
Perrotta, G. (2019). Anxiety disorders: Definitions, contexts, neural correlates and strategic therapy. JJ Neur Neurosci, 6(1): 042. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Giulio-Perrotta/publication/344425850_Anxiety_Disorders_Definitions_Contexts_Neural_Correlates_And_Strategic_Therapy/links/5f74184d92851c14bca04303/Anxiety-Disorders-Definitions-Contexts-Neural-Correlates-And-Strategic-Therapy.pdf
Salman, A. P., & Marlina, L. (2022). The Effect of childhood trauma in Joseph Moldover’s novel Every Moment After (2019). English Language and Literature, 11(2), 201-208. https://doi.org/10.24036/ell.v11i2.117791
Smith, M., & South, S. (2019). Romantic attachment style and borderline personality pathology: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 75, 101781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101781
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Group.
Villines, D. (2025, July 14). Repressed emotions: Signs and impact. MedicalNewsToday. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/repressed-emotions
Wardani, M. S. (2022). Childhood traumatic experience and its contribution to personality develompment in Stephen Chbosky The Perks of Being a Wallflower novel: A behaviorists perspective. [Bachelor Thesis, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta]. http://eprints.ums.ac.id/id/eprint/101881
Zulfaisya, R., & Hasra, H. (2020). Defense mechanism of the main character in Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak Novel. Bahtera: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra, 19(2), 313–335. https://doi.org/10.21009/bahtera.192.08
Published
2025-12-31
How to Cite
SIMATUPANG, Zefanya Aurora Magdalena; THOHIRIYAH, Thohiriyah.
Childhood trauma and its effect on adult relationships in It Ends with Us.
Pioneer: Journal of Language and Literature, [S.l.], v. 17, n. 2, p. 356-373, dec. 2025.
ISSN 2655-8718.
Available at: <https://unars.ac.id/ojs/index.php/pioneer/article/view/6412>. Date accessed: 25 feb. 2026.
doi: https://doi.org/10.36841/pioneer.v17i2.6412.
Issue
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
An author who publishes in Pioneer: Journal of Language and Literature agrees to the following terms:
- Author retains the copyright and grants the journal the right of first publication of the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal
- Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book) with the acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Author is permitted and encouraged to post his/her work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of the published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
