profesional women as victims of emotional abuse within marriage or cohabitating relationships

206 Pages·2004·4.46 MB·English

by  Theo Barkhuizen

PROFESIONAL WOMEN AS VICTIMS OF
EMOTIONAL ABUSE WITHIN MARRIAGE
OR COHABITATING RELATIONSHIPS:
A VICTIMOLOGICAL STUDY

MERLYN BARKHUIZEN
PROFESIONAL WOMEN AS VICTIMS OF
EMOTIONAL ABUSE WITHIN MARRIAGE
OR COHABITATING RELATIONSHIPS:
A VICTIMOLOGICAL STUDY

by

MERLYN BARKHUIZEN

Presented in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the degree

MAGISTER ARTIUM

in the

Faculty of Arts

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

APRIL 2004
Dedicated to:
My mentor, Professor Ronelle Pretorius
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my gratitude to the following persons for the
support and assistance they provided during this study:

(cid:216) Professor Ronelle Pretorius, my supervisor, for her efficient
guidance, enthusiasm and encouragement.

(cid:216) My husband, Theo and daughter, Mekayla, for their sacrifice,
understanding and support.

(cid:216) My parents, Bennie and Wendy, for their love and support.

(cid:216) Mrs Elana Mauer for her encouragement and assistance with
the analysis of data.

(cid:216) The exceptional women who made this study possible.

DEO GLORIA
CONTENTS

Page

FIGURES...............................……………………………………..……………...vii

SUMMARY………………………………………………………………………….viii

OPSOMMING………………………………………………..………………………x

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL ORIENTATION AND THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
1.1 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………….……………1
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM……………………………………...…2
1.2.1 Relevance of the topic………………………………………………2
1.2.2 Theoretical significance…………………………………………..…3
1.2.2.1 General systems theoretical approach……..…….……….3
1.2.2.2 Patriarchal dominance perspective………………..………4
1.2.2.3 The cycle of violence and abuse………………………..…5
1.2.3 Methodological statement of the problem……………………..….5
1.2.3.1 Definition of concepts………………………………..…..….5
1.2.3.2 Ethical considerations……………………………………….6
1.3 DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS……………………………………..…6
1.3.1 Professional woman…………………………………………………6
1.3.2 Emotional abuse………………………………………………..……8
1.3.2.1 Verbal, direct or overt emotional abuse………………….11
1.3.2.2 Non-verbal, indirect or covert emotional abuse....……...11
1.3.3 Victim………………………………………………………………..12
1.3.4 Marriage…………………………………………………………….13
1.3.5 Cohabitation…..……………………………………………………14
1.3.6 Domestic violence…..……………………………………………..15
1.4 TERMINOLOGY LIST……………………………………………………..17
1.4.1 Self-esteem…………………………………………………………17
1.4.2 Loss of identity……………………………………………………..17
1.4.3 Aggression………………………………………………………….18
1.4.4 Social support system……………………………………………..18
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1.5 AIMS OF THE STUDY…………………………………………………….18
1.6 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY………………………………………...19
1.6.1 Geographical demarcation………………………………………..19
1.6.2 Sample………………………………………………………………19
1.7 PROGRAM FOR REMAINDER OF RESEARCH………………………20

CHAPTER 2: HISTORICAL AND LITERATURE OVERVIEW:
THE IMPACT OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE ON THE
PROFESSIONAL WOMAN
2.1 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW…………………………………………..……22
2.1.1 Historical overview of woman abuse with reference
to the victim…………………………………………………………22
2.1.2 Historical overview of woman abuse with reference
to the patriarchy…………………………………………………….22
2.1.2.1 The law of God: The roots of patriarchy………………………...24
2.2 LITERATURE OVERVIEW…………………………………..……………25
2.2.1
Introduction………………………………………………………………....25
2.2.2 Research findings of studies done in Canada…………………..26
2.2.3 Emotional abuse……………………………………………………27
2.2.3.1 Forms of emotional abuse………………………………...29
2.2.4 Tactics of emotional abuse used by abuser…………………….34
2.2.5 Characteristics of abuser………………………………….………40
2.2.6 Legal interventions…………………………………………………43
2.2.7 Reasons why women stay in emotionally abusive
relationships………………………………………………………...47
2.2.7.1 Double deception………………………..…………………47
2.2.7.2 Attachment………………………………………………….48
2.2.7.3 Dynamics of interpersonal violence……………………...49
2.2.8 Impact of emotional abuse on the victim………………………...50
2.2.8.1 Trauma of emotional abuse……………………………….50
2.2.8.2 Diagnosing the trauma of emotional abuse……………..51
2.2.9 Emotional abuse and the control of the abuser…………………55
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2.2.10 Link between emotional and physical abuse……………………56
2.2.10.1 Catalyst hypothesis: Conditions under
which coercive communication leads to
physical aggression……………………………..…………58
2.2.10.2 Coercive communication and interpersonal
violence………………………………………………..……59
2.2.11 The impact of emotional abuse on the children………………...63
2.2.11.1 The intergenerational cycle of patriarchy………………..63
2.2.11.2 The intergenerational cycle of violence………………….64
2.3 CONCLUSION………………………………………………..……………64

CHAPTER 3: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES: THE IMPACT OF
EMOTIONAL ABUSE ON THE VICTIM
3.1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………..…………………65
3.2 CYCLE OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE………………………………..………65
3.2.1 Psychosocial theory of learned helplessness…………………..68
3.2.2 Conclusion…………………………………………………….……72
3.3 PATRIARCHAL DOMINANCE……………………………………………72
3.3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………72
3.3.2 The rise of the patriarchal household……………………………73
3.3.3 The nature of the patriarchy and its maintenance……………...74
3.3.4 Behaviour patterns in a system of patriarchy…………………...76
3.3.5 Sexual terrorism……………………………………………………77
3.3.6 The marriage contract……………………………………………..78
3.3.7 Conclusion………………………………………………..………...79
3.4 FAMILY VIOLENCE FROM A COMMUNICATIVE
PERSPECTIVE…………………………………………………………….80
3.4.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………80
3.4.2 Defining violence and abuse from a
communication perspective……………………………………….81
3.4.3 Violence and the dimensions of communication………………..81

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3.4.3.1 Family violence as the instrumental
dimension of communication……………………………..82
3.4.3.2 Family violence as the relationship
dimension of communication……………………………..82
3.4.3.3 Family violence as the identity dimension of
communication……………………………………………..83
3.4.4 Systems theory and the communication perspective…………..84
3.4.5
Conclusion………………………………………………………………….85
3.5 A SYSTEMS THEORY PERSPECTIVE ON RELATIONSHIPS……...85
3.5.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………85
3.5.2 An abusive relationship as a system…………………………….85
3.5.3 Positive and negative feedback…………………………………..86
3.5.4 Open versus closed systems……………………………………..87
3.5.5 The threshold of viability…………………………………………..88
3.5.6 Systems in a social environment…………………………………89
3.5.7 Systems in transition………………………………………………89
3.5.8 Hierarchies of feedback and control……………………………..90
3.5.9 A systems theory approach to conflict…………………………..92
3.5.10 Conclusion…………………………………………………….……94
3.6 INTERACTIONAL MODEL OF THE PROCESS OF
VICTIMISATION BY AN EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE
PARTNER………………………………………………………..…………95
3.6.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………95
3.6.2 Cycle of emotional abuse…………………………………………96
3.6.2.1 Psychosocial theory of learned helplessness…………..97
3.6.3 Patriarchal dominance…………………………………………….97
3.6.4 Family violence from a communicative perspective……………98
3.6.5 A systems theory perspective on relationships…………………99
3.6.6 Conclusion……………………………………………………..….101

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CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY, PROCEDURES AND
TECHNIQUES
4.1 INTRODUCTION……………………………………….………………...103
4.2 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH……………………………………..103
4.3 RESEARCH PROCEDURES……………………………………………104
4.3.1 Literature review………………………………………………….105
4.3.2 Sampling techniques……………………………………………..105
4.3.2.1 Snowball sampling technique…………………………...106
4.3.2.2 Purposive or judgmental sampling technique…………106
4.3.2.3 Composition of sampling………………………………...107
4.3.3 Informal interview schedule……………………………………..107
4.3.4 Composition of the interview schedule…………………………108
4.3.5
Interviews………………………………………………………………….108
4.3.5.1 Probing…………………………………………………….109
4.3.5.2 Pilot study………………………………………………….110
4.3.5.3 Anonymity and confidentiality…………………………...110
4.4 CASE ANALYSIS…………………………………………………………111
4.5 OBSERVATION…………………………………………………………..111
4.6 SCIENTIFIC VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE
STUDY…………………………………………………………………….112
4.7 TECHNIQUES USED TO ANAYLSE DATA…………………………..113
4.8 PROFILE OF THE VICTIM RESPONDENTS…………………………114
4.9 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………....115

CHAPTER 5: ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
5.1 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………116
5.2 CASE ANALYSIS…………………………………………………………116
5.2.1 Conclusion………………………………………………………...132
5.3 CYCLE OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE………………………………………132
5.3.1 Victims’ experiences of the cycle of
emotional abuse…………………………………………………..133

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5.4 PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY OF LEARNED
HELPLESSNESS…………………………………………………………139
5.4.1 Victims’ experiences of learned helplessness…………………140
5.5 PATRIARCHAL DOMINANCE……………………………………….…144
5.5.1 Victims’ experiences of patriarchal dominance………………..144
5.5.2 Conclusion………………………………………………………...151

5.6 FAMILY VIOLENCE FROM A COMMUNICATIVE
PERSPECTIVE…………………………………………………………...151
5.6.1 Victims’ experiences of family violence from a
communicative perspective……………………………………..152
5.7 A SYSTEMS THEORY PERSPECTIVE ON RELATIONSHIPS........156
5.7.1 Victims’ experiences of the conflict process
within the family system…………………………………….……156
5.8 IMPACT OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE ON PROFESSIONAL
WOMEN…………………………………………………………………...166
5.9 CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………169

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………170
6.2 CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………..……170
6.2.1 Conclusions in connection with the aims
of this study………………………………………………………..170
6.3 RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………..……………...172
6.3.1 Healing…………………………………………………………….172
6.3.1.1 Support groups……………………………………………172
6.3.1.2 The criminal justice system……………………………...173
6.3.1.3 Family therapy…………………………….………………173
6.3.1.4 The media………………………………….……………...174
6.3.2 Recommendations for further research………………………..174
6.3.2.1 Intervention programs……………………………………174
6.3.2.2 Male victims……………………………………………….175
6.3.2.3 Typologies…………………………………………………175
6.3.2.4 Impact on children………………………………………..175
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