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

206 Pages·2004·4.46 MB·English
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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 i 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 ii 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 iii 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 iv 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 v 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 vi

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Historical overview of woman abuse with reference to the victim… .. victimisation process throughout the duration of these relationships. Against .. skilled, slick, trained, in authority, a specialist, virtuoso and a wizard. subject to emotional abuse by her male partner, whether it is direct or
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