Women's early relational experiences that lead to domestic violence.
Many perpetrators of domestic violence engage in a perpetual cycle of forming sequential relationships while repeating violent behavior. Their methods of manipulation successfully dominate a partner, the outcome of the relationship being control and violence. This research study was influenced by a feminist standpoint epistemology, and was focused on the narratives of 15 women who chose to talk in great detail about the transition in their respective relationship from love to violence. The findings revealed three tactics, termed the princess effect, feeling vulnerable, and commitment, which were deployed by male perpetrators in the early stages of a relationship. The purpose of these tactics was to successfully engage and retain women, to then exert control, inflict violence, and subjugate them. A description of the initial act of physical violence is provided, revealing the impact of these tactics in meeting the ends intended by the perpetrator.
University of Chester, Chester, United Kingdom. j.keeling@chester.ac.uk
June
J
Keeling
Colleen
C
Fisher
D000328:Adult; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D036301:Qualitative Research; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult