Broken Trust: Institutional Betrayal and the Neurobiology of Belonging
Publication information:
Abstract
What happens when belonging fails within the very institutions that promise safety and recognition? Drawing on social neuroscience, attachment theory, and institutional betrayal research, this paper argues that belonging is not merely symbolic inclusion but a neuro-affective regulatory condition. Social exclusion activates neural systems associated with physical pain, while attachment research demonstrates that security underwrites trust, regulation, and exploration. Institutions function as attachment systems at scale, generating expectations of fairness, protection, and acknowledgment. When harm is denied or obscured, the resulting rupture exceeds interpersonal rejection and constitutes institutional betrayal. Focusing on spiritual communities and the academy, we examine how practices of boundary-making and authority can both cultivate belonging and intensify social pain—and why institutional courage is necessary for meaningful repair
Presenter Biography
Christopher Germann, PhD, is a psychologist whose work integrates social neuroscience, attachment theory, and institutional analysis. He completed his doctorate as an EU Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Plymouth and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Gerhard Kienle Chair, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke.