Citation

Both LM, Favaretto TC, Freitas LHM. Brain Behav. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Center of Treatment and Studies of Psychic Trauma, Psychiatric Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/brb3.1430

PMID

31588692

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Domestic violence places woman as the victim and man as the aggressor in the family environment. There is limited consistent and clear information based on empirical evidence on the dynamic functioning of the victims.

OBJECTIVE: To further understand the psychodynamics of women in the cycle of violence taking into account the aspects of psychological trauma. It is transversal research design. The sample was composed of ten women victim of domestic violence. Data collection was based on the OPD-2 Clinical Interview. Content analysis was performed from categories created by a posteriori: (a) Previous history; (b) Behavioral aspects; (c) Emotional aspects; (d) Reason for being in the relationship; (e) Type of violence and explanation for the reason of violence; (f) Support network and daily activities; and (g) Clinical and legal referral.

RESULTS: Constant violence causes changes in the structural functioning and psychological conflict of the victims: difficulties in mentalization, instability in relationships, emotional dependence, abandonment of her own life for her partners, difficulty in having a sense of identity. Victims presented difficulties in making significant changes in daily life to break the cycle of violence.

CONCLUSION: The research sought to collaborate with more evidence on the subject, suggesting a reformulation on forms of encounter to break the cycle of violence.

© 2019 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

cycle violence against women; domestic violence; psychodynamics; psychological trauma; qualitative research