extreme environments

Betrayal Trauma, Perpetrator Psychology, and Witness-Survivor Resilience: A Case Study of Father Norbert J. Maday in the Chicago Archdiocese | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Betrayal Trauma, Perpetrator Psychology, and Witness-Survivor Resilience: A Case Study of Father Norbert J. Maday in the Chicago Archdiocese | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse (CPSA) is uniquely harmful because it fuses interpersonal violation with the betrayal of sacred authority and institutional trust. This paper examines the case of Father Norbert J. Maday, a Chicago Archdiocese priest convicted of sexually abusing minors, as a lens to explore perpetrator psychology, betrayal trauma theory, and the neuropsychological and psychological sequelae of abuse. The analysis emphasizes the underexamined population of “witness-survivors”: children who resisted inappropriate advances, observed abusive behaviors, or voiced concerns, but were dismissed or punished by family and parish staff. Maday’s behavioral profile demonstrates grooming, cognitive distortions, narcissistic entitlement, antisocial tendencies, and moral disengagement, all reinforced by institutional silence. Survivors—including witnesses—show classic betrayal trauma responses, including HPA axis dysregulation, amygdala hyperactivation, hippocampal alterations, and prefrontal suppression.

The Effects of Women Enablers and the Perpetuation of Cluster B Personality Disorder Abuse | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

The Effects of Women Enablers and the Perpetuation of Cluster B Personality Disorder Abuse | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and psychopathology, we explore how the dysregulated brain circuits of Cluster B individuals (including hyperactivation of the amygdala, hypoactivity in the prefrontal cortex, and disruptions in the mirror neuron system) interact with the psychological vulnerabilities of enablers. Neurobiological stress responses in victims, including chronic dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and maladaptive fear conditioning, are analyzed as mechanisms by which enablers inadvertently reinforce maladaptive behaviors.

We also consider the dynamics of institutional betrayal, particularly in law enforcement and organizational settings, where women in enabling roles may normalize, minimize, or dismiss abuse. This interdisciplinary synthesis emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift in both clinical and societal responses to Cluster B-related abuse, recognizing enablers as critical actors in maintaining cycles of harm.

The Effects of Borderline Personality Disorder in Extreme Environments | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

The Effects of Borderline Personality Disorder in Extreme Environments | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Comorbid histrionic personality disorder (HPD) traits can exacerbate these issues. HPD is defined by excessive attention-seeking, dramatic emotional expression, and sexually provocative behavior . Individuals with histrionic traits crave being at the center of attention and may feel unappreciated or anxious when they are not. They often exhibit flirtatious or inappropriately sexual behavior and rapidly shifting, shallow emotions that may appear insincere . When BPD and HPD co-occur, the person not only experiences intense unstable emotions (BPD) but also has a strong drive to attract attention and approval (HPD). This combination can manifest in manipulative or seductive interpersonal styles, rooted in deep fears of abandonment and a need for validation.

The Effects of Malignant Narcissism in Extreme Environments on Brain and Behavior | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

The Effects of Malignant Narcissism in Extreme Environments on Brain and Behavior | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Malignant narcissism (MN) describes a syndromal configuration at the severe end of pathological narcissism that combines narcissistic personality pathology with antisocial features, ego‑syntonic aggression/sadism, and paranoid tendencies. In isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) settings—e.g., combat units, polar stations, undersea habitats, and spacecraft—MN traits pose outsized risks to team safety, mission performance, and ethical decision‑making.

Borderline Histrionics and Competitive Fitness Environments | Boling Expeditionary Research

Borderline Histrionics and Competitive Fitness Environments | Boling Expeditionary Research

Competitive fitness environments, particularly weightlifting contests, provide fertile ground for the manifestation of these traits. Through intense regimens, social validation, and visual spectacle, these events may function as both coping mechanisms and maladaptive stages for performance-driven identity construction.