PSYCH66 - Domestic Violence

What is domestic violence and it’s other name?

A pattern of behavior whereby one person tries to exert control over another

• aka Intimate Partner Violence

Is Domestic Violence only physical violence?

NO, can also be verbal, emotional, sexual, financial, etc.

Victims and survivors — why do people stay?

They can become seemingly obsessed with the Perpetrator

• takes 7 times to leave maybe more

• court/custody situations

• Codependency

• child’s safety

• perpetrator abuse

• culture

• fear

Power and control wheel

types of ways that DV occurs

• coercion + threats

• intimidation

• emotional abuse

• isolation

• minimizing, denying, and blaming

• using children

• male privilege

• economic abuse

Why do people stay?

abuse —> very complicated

Abuse is a cycle

Info about DV

• abusers —> making conscious decisions to abuse w/ the intended outcome being for the other person to submit to their will

• high level of manipulation

What kind of personality traits do perpetrators usually have?

Narcissistic or Antisocial

What is the cycle of violence?

1. tension building

2. acute explosion

3. honeymoon

In the center is denial

What is the most important part of the DV cycle?

the Honeymoon stage bc it’s NOT a one-time experience

• part of a greater manipulation tactic to keep the victim in the relationship

• greater cycle that becomes an addiction that keeps the person abused always waiting for the honeymoon stage to return

Explain the cycle of violence

tension: followed by an increase in alcohol or drug use

acute explosion: really scary, big explosion of abuse

• law enforcement gets involved, possible order to protect victim but not guaranteed

• some won’t even call police out of fear

honeymoon: love bombing strategy used to keep victim

• abusers prey on generous, kind, loving people

• “i’ll never do it again”

How does trauma impact children?

Witnessing DV can be devastating

• DV - one of the ACEs

• more ACEs a child experiences, the more at risk they are for unhealthy consequences including physical/mental illness, substance use, and even early death

Who does trauma impact more: younger or older children?

Younger children - depends on where the child is in their brain development

Children who witness severe ongoing DV are at risk for:

• becoming a batterer or victim later in life

• difficulty concentrating or sitting still (mimics ADHD)

• developmental delays

• insecure/anxious attachment styles

• panic attacks

• PTSD

• aggressive behavior in school

Treatment - same for DV and PTSD trauma

fairly effective for PTSD

• many improve but some may never return to normal

treatment for combat veterans

combo of biological, cognitive, family, and group interventions

• does NOT guarantee more success

Most effective treatment for PTSD

Antidepressant - but they are more effective for some symptoms than others

• Effective: symptoms of increased arousal and negative emotions

• Not effective: recurrent negative memories, dissociations, and avoidance behaviors

CBT: Domestic Violence

good for combat veterans

Cognitive Processing Therapy

veterans

• learn to deal with difficult memories and feelings

• come to accept what they have experienced and done

• become less judgmental of themselves

• begin to trust other people once again

More accepting and less judgmental of their recurring thoughts, feelings, and memories

Exposure therapy: PTSD

confront trauma-related objects/events that cause extreme upset and anxiety

• may be imagined or in real life

• prolonged exposure has them confront painful memories that they typically avoid

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

commonly used for trauma

• clients move their eyes in a rhythmic manner from side to side while flooding minds with images of the objects and situations they ordinarily try to avoid

• treatment can sometimes be helpful for those with PTSD