Intimate partner violence — previously known as battered woman syndrome, or battered person syndrome — is a psychological condition that can develop when a person experiences abuse, usually at the hands of an intimate partner. People who find themselves in an abusive relationship often do not feel safe or happy.
noun. the array of physical and psychological injuries exhibited by women (battered women, or battered wives ) who have been beaten repeatedly or otherwise abused by their partners or spouses.
In her book, The Battered Woman Syndrome, Walker says most women who are battered exhibit four characteristics: They believe the violence is their fault, they can't place the blame for the violence on anyone else, they fear for their lives and their children's lives, and they believe their abuser is everywhere and sees ...
The signs of battered woman syndrome
hide the abuse from friends and family. fear for their life or the lives of their children. believe that the abuser is all-knowing and can see their every movement. be afraid and never know what side of their partner they'll see that day — a loving partner or an abuser.
Specifically, the battered woman syndrome is characterized by the cycle of violence, which has three phases: (1) the tension-building phase; (2) the acute battering incident; and (3) the tranquil, loving (or, at least, nonviolent) phase.
These female abusers' common traits included being possessive, controlling and jealous; having unrealistic expectations of her partner; having high impulsivity, anger and rage; and not having enough outside support from female friends.
transitive verb. : to beat with successive blows so as to bruise, shatter, or demolish. battered down the door. women who have been battered by their husbands. : bombard.
: damaged or worn down by hard use. a battered old hat. a battered truck. : injured by repeated blows. the victim's battered body.
These dimensions are used to propose a typology consisting of 3 subtypes of batterers (i.e., family only, dysphoric/borderline, and generally violent/antisocial).
Domestic violence
It encompasses all physical, sexual, emotional, economic and psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This is one of the most common forms of violence experienced by women globally.
He drove up in a battered old car.
: a damaging experience or situation : an injury, setback, or defeat. That was the year Canada rebounded from a 28–4 battering in the round-robin to beat the U.S. 17–16 in the championship final …
In fact, the impact of abuse can last for years. On average, a person who leaves an abusive relationship will do so seven times befanore they make the final break, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Battering is best understood as a continuous traumatic experience and, like many other forms of trauma, it takes a considerable psychological toll on its victims. Battered women are at risk for chronic physical and psychological health problems including PTSD, depression, chronic pain, and substance abuse.
The five cycles codified—enmeshment, extreme overprotection and overindulgence, complete neglect, rage, and rejection/abandon- ment—were first published in Annals, the journal of the American Psychotherapy Association, in the Fall of 2002.
Emotional abuse involves attempts to frighten, control, or isolate you. This type of abuse doesn't involve physical violence, though it might involve threats of violence directed toward you or your loved ones. It's characterized by a person's words, actions, and the consistency of these behaviors.
Battered woman syndrome is not a legal defense in and of itself, but may legally constitute: Self-defense when using a reasonable and proportionate degree of violence in response to the abuse might appear the most appropriate defense but, until recently, it almost never succeeded.
Keeps track of what you are doing all the time and criticizes you for little things. Constantly accuses you of being unfaithful. Prevents or discourages you from seeing friends or family, or going to work or school.
Changes in behavior — such as aggression, anger, hostility or hyperactivity — or changes in school performance. Depression, anxiety or unusual fears, or a sudden loss of self-confidence. Sleep problems and nightmares. An apparent lack of supervision.
Examples include intimidation, coercion, ridiculing, harassment, treating an adult like a child, isolating an adult from family, friends, or regular activity, use of silence to control behavior, and yelling or swearing which results in mental distress.