In the case of severe or repeated abuses these emotional states are aroused and unprocessed, time and time again. They are disowned by the child (the child has not been taught the skills to cope with them) and yet they are repeatedly needed to function as a part of the child during abusive experiences. The only 'solution' to this dilemma is for the child assign them their own sense of identity and 'block out' all awareness of them (knowledge is a threat to emotional survival, as the child is unable to cope with the experiences or emotions).