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oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/20029 2023-07-10 col_2142_5131 col_2142_16540 com_2142_5130 com_2142_16538

Cowger, Charles D. Chang, Valerie Nash 2011-05-07T12:26:33Z 2011-05-07T12:26:33Z 10000-01-01 1993 This feminist interpretative interactionism study explored the lived experience of sixteen women, from diverse backgrounds, who were or are in psychologically abusive relationships. Moving beyond previous definitions, psychological abuse was explained as domination, oppression, unrealistic expectations, and verbal attacking or silent withdrawal within a relationship characterized by almost no emotional connection. Using in-depth interviews and group meetings, the researcher collected descriptions of the content and process of psychologically abusive relationships. Narrative form was used to present the findings as a collective story. Following biographical sketches of each participant, the findings of the study include descriptive information about psychologically abusive relationships and identification of the predominant interaction patterns: complementary schismogensis, double bind, verbal attacking, and silent withdrawal. These patterns transactionally recreate the power imbalance of patriarchy. Psychological abuse is explained as an extension of the system of domination and submission which distinguishes gender duality and patriarchy. Moving from a societal perspective to the individual, denial, projection, anxiety, depression, and physical illness are common dynamics. And finally, the process of these relationships was explored. Moving from the beginning of the abuse and her attempts to fix the relationship by changing herself; to a perceptual shift involving rejection of his view of reality, seeing the seriousness of the problems, and often seeking counseling help; to exhaustion and despair and a return to self; to gaining support, setting limits, and in most cases, leaving the relationship, psychologically abusive relationships follow a predictable path. The study points to a number of practice implications including: the importance of identifying possible psychological abuse, of assessing where the woman is in the relationship process, of being patient as she struggles to find acceptable alternatives, of validating her reality and her power, and of listening to her story; the merit of using support and/or psychotherapy groups, and feminist's therapy methods; and the need to include gender and societal analysis in the psychotherapeutic process. Ultimately, the work must involve advocacy for broad societal change to a structure which demands respect and equal treatment for all individuals. Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-07T12:26:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 4922 bytes, checksum: 910b249b4beec47e7ab768910c8f966f (MD5) 9411581.pdf: 16191075 bytes, checksum: 4a531022f638f1f428fe343c57268849 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1993 Item marked as restricted to the 'UIUC Users [automated]' Group (id=2) by Howard Ding (hding2@illinois.edu) on 2011-05-07T14:41:04Z Item is restricted indefinitely. Restriction data tranferred 2014-07-01T11:17:43-05:00 Original Data Group with Access UIUC Users [automated] Release Date: none Reason: ETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permission ETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permission U of I Only AAI9411581 (UMI)AAI9411581 http://hdl.handle.net/2142/20029 eng Copyright 1993 Chang, Valerie Nash Psychology, Social Social Work Sociology, Individual and Family Studies A study of psychological abuse of women in marriage text Social Work Social Work University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Dissertation Ph.D.