Tough presents striking research from neuroendocrinology and other fields revealing that childhood psychological
traumas — from physical and sexual abuse to physical and emotional neglect, divorce, parental incarceration, and addiction, things found more often (though by no means exclusively) in impoverished families — overwhelm developing
bodies» and minds» ability to manage the stress of events, resulting in «all kinds of
serious and long - lasting negative effects, physical, psychological, and neurological.»