It’s (Not) Over: Relationship Instability and Recovery Between Victims and Detained Domestic Abusers

Abstract

We used an innovative data set involving audio-recorded conversations between abusers and victims to explore the interactional patterns that occur within violent relationships, following severe violence and the abuser's detainment. Using micro-level conversational data, our analysis sequenced the hopes/desires that victims and abusers expressed around their expectations for continuing or discontinuing a connection with each other. Conversations commonly included an expressed statement to end the relationship. Although it was common for both victims and abusers to express hope of ending the relationship, victims were most likely to initiate this desire. In response, abusers used multiple strategies to regain connection, including 1) challenging the victim, 2) declaring love or a desire to continue the relationship, 3) appealing for sympathy or help from the victim, and 4) mirroring or accepting the victim's desire to end the relationship (when other strategies were unsuccessful). Abusers' responses served to cultivate additional conflict in the relationship while at the same time maintained communication and facilitated relationship recovery following threats of dissolution. These findings contribute to an increased theoretical understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence in the sensitive period involving the couple's physical separation.

Çocukluk Çağı Travmaları ile Romantik İlişkide İstismara Maruziyet Arasındaki İlişkide Borderline Kişilik Özellikleri ve Ayrılık Anksiyetesinin Aracı Rolü

“…In this direction, while many studies associate borderline personality disorder with exposure to violence generally (Alexander, 2009;Coolidge and Anderson, 2002), there are also studies stating that borderline personality disorder and exposure to violence, especially in romantic relationships, are associated (Reuter et al, 2015;Vanwoerden et al, 2019;Brownridge & Tyler, 2022). The conflicting and irregular nature of romantic relationships is seen as one of the main characteristics of relationship violence, and the presence of instability in interpersonal relationships in borderline personality disorder is associated with increased exposure to abuse (Capaldi et al, 2012;Carotta et al, 2018;Sinai et al, 2018;Wojciechowski, 2019). Adults who neglect the child by not providing adequate support in the first relationships, abuse the child emotionally and physically, or actually or imaginatively abandon the child make child tend to develop borderline features in adult life and become more sensitive to separation, more sensitive to abandonment, more intolerant of loneliness and more abusable (Widom et al, 2009;Westphal et al, 2013;Berber Çelik & Odacı, 2019;Wojciechowski, 2019).…”

Application of the transformed-interview method in investigation of sexual crimes in Ukraine

“…To identify, disclosed and document the cases of sexual abuse and intimate partner violence, some of the researchers used certain models or conversation-methods, etc. with a special accentuation to enhance the memory capacity and its efficiency (Bhargava et al, 2011;Carotta et al, 2018;Paterson & Kemp, 2006;Rhatigan & Axsom, 2006;Sauerland et al, 2014;Vredeveldt et al, 2016;Vredeveldt et al, 2017).…”

Professionals’ Perception of the Needs of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Vignette Study

“…Dependency binds a woman to her partner if she sees him as incapable or in need of support (Rhodes & McKenzie, 1998). A background of adverse childhood experiences can cause men to develop a personality of dependency, leading to a rejection-abuse cycle (Carrotta et al, 2015). The other characteristics of the partner, for example, being manipulative, can enhance women's bonding or identification with the perpetrator and her cognitive distortion, and undermine strategic decision-making.…”