Week 5 - Law and Victims Flashcards
What are common predictors of victimization?
Prior history of abuse
Substance abuse
Economic/financial hardship
Mental disorder/personality disorder
Young age
Low education
Social isolation
Pregnancy
What is the prevalence of depression among IPV survivors?
Approximately 35-51% (Dillon et al., 2013). The severity and chronicity of IPV increase depressive symptoms.
Depressive symptoms increase when experiencing multiple categories of IPV.
How does depression impact daily functioning in IPV victims?
Impaired motivation
Increased conflict with partners - partner believes victim should be doing more arounnd house
Reduced ability to defend oneself - care less for wellbeing
Decreased self-esteem and life satisfaction
PTSD and IPV
strongly associated, greater severity/chronicity and more forms contribute to symptomology
comorbid with depression
sleep disturbances, concentration problems - make it worse
hypervigilance - trigger partner
How does IPV affect sleep?
quality and quantity of sleep, feel the need to always be alert
dangerous because being asleep can be used by the perpetrator as justification for violence
Perpetrators may limit victims’ sleep, leading to confusion and impaired functioning
nightmares, grinding teeth, stress related tight sleeping
reduced ability to cope w violence
IPV and suicide and self harm
consistent association
women - physical and sexual abuse - 3-4x more likely to attempt
self-harm = “dealing with”
suicide = “way out”
victim blaming
common
victims blame selves, perpetrators blame victims, third parties (why didnt she just leave)
third parties more likely to suggest relationship improving
negative mental health outcomes - positive if victim is reassured (most victims reach out)
victim blaming predictors
men - blame women, be blamed
older, less education - more likely to blame
defy norms, provoking behaviours - increase chance of being blamed
frequency = more blame, severity = less blame
SUD and IPV Victimization
higher likelihood of IPV victimization
Alcohol abuse is the most prevalent
also negative outcomes w/o IPV
Coercive control may discourage treatment
partners may encourage substance use.
substance use to cope
Illicit Drug Use and IPV
raises the likelihood
report using substances immediately following IPV incidents
use may be used to “numb” chronic pain and cope with stress
How does substance use among women affect perceptions of victimhood?
Women who drink or use substances are often viewed as violating traditional feminine gender roles, which increases victim blaming against them.
What psychological effects do women experience when engaging in substance use as victims?
Substance use can lead to increased self-blame, shame, and feelings of depression and anxiety among victims.
How does substance use impact the credibility of victims in cases of abuse?
Victims who use substances are perceived as less truthful, making it more difficult for them to accuse their abusive partners.
What is the Just World Theory, and how does it relate to victim blaming?
The Just World Theory suggests that “bad things happen to bad people.” Individuals who believe this are more likely to blame victims when they perceive any moral transgressions, such as alcohol or substance use.
Chronic Pain and IPV Victimization
Victims often report experiencing disabling pain long after separating from their abuser.
swollen joints, back aches, neck pain, stomach cramps, and chronic headaches.
Pain Management Issues
IPV victims may use pain medication more frequently.
Women often have their pain claims dismissed by healthcare providers
Physical Health Risks Associated with IPV
heart attacks, heart disease, hypertension, thrombosis, and strokes.
fatigue, allergies, sensory problems, respiratory issues, bone/muscle conditions, diabetes, malnutrition, and gastrointestinal issues.
What are disorders that are made worse by psychological features?
Somatoform Disorders: Physical symptoms with no clear physical cause, linked to psychological factors; more common in IPV victims.
Psychosomatic Disorders: Physical symptoms exacerbated by stress; IPV victims are at higher risk.
Impact on Daily Life
IPV victims struggle to maintain a “normal life.”
feelings of alienation, making it difficult to connect with others.
may feel they have a “terrible secret”
Difficulties in forming new intimate relationships
Enjoyment and Leisure
psychological impact of IPV can hinder a victim’s capacity for enjoyment and leisure activities.
further exacerbate mental health issues
Financial Abuse Overview
perpetrator controlling the victim’s finances to enforce dependency and fear
control is associated with PTSD and contributes to feelings of being trapped
Challenges in Leaving
Financial control makes it difficult for victims to plan to leave
Victims may be forced into roles (e.g., stay-at-home parent), increasing financial stress on the household.
Economic Autonomy and IPV
empowers women, reducing financial dependence and stress.
for every 10% increase in financial exclusion, there was a 2% decrease in recent IPV.
Economic independence may lead to conflicts in spending decisions
Definition of Embodiment
Embodiment is an individual’s perception and experience of their own body, including feelings of ownership and control.
Impact of IPV on Embodiment
IPV can disrupt a victim’s sense of embodiment through trauma, affecting mental and physical health, self-identity, and relationships
Dimensions of Embodiment
Body Connection and Comfort: Feeling at ease in one’s body.
Agency and Functionality: Sense of control over bodily actions.
Experience and Expression of Desire: Ability to recognize and express desires.
Engagement in Self-Care Practices: Caring for one’s body.
Resistance to Self-Objectification: Not viewing oneself merely as an object.
Protective Responses to Trauma
Bodily Dissociation: Disconnection from bodily experiences to avoid pain and trauma; can lead to feeling detached from one’s body.
Disembodiment: Feeling of detachment where one perceives trauma as happening to someone else
Emotional Consequences of Disembodiment
Victims may feel anxiety and shame about their bodies, particularly in violent relationships involving sexual violence
Physical scars can remind victims of violence and evoke feelings of weakness or shame
Loss of Embodiment and Self-Perception
Low sense of embodiment can lead victims to legitimize sexual violence and violations of bodily autonomy
Victims may see their bodies as limitations in defending themselves
Sexual Abuse and Gynaecological Health
Sexual abuse in IPV is linked to various gynaecological symptoms, including:
Endometriosis
Bleeding after intercourse
Pain or burning during urination
Pain during intercourse
incidence of abnormal Pap smears, higher rates of cervical cancer, and higher occurrence of STIs
Sexual Decision-Making and IPV
IPV affects victims’ sexual decision-making and free choice.
feel coerced or fear harm increasing risks of STIs and unwanted pregnancies
Consider the out-of-hospital healthcare costs
Unwanted Pregnancies and IPV
Unwanted pregnancies can lead women to seek termination, which may increase the risk of IPV.
Women diagnosed with infertility or those who experience miscarriages face increased risk for IPV victimization.
Perinatal IPV Overview
refers to abuse occurring before, during, or after pregnancy up to one year postpartum
IPV Health Impacts During Pregnancy
premature labor, miscarriage, low birth weight, and neonatal death
IPV during pregnancy may lead to inadequate nutrition and prenatal care
affect maternal attachment, leading mothers to view their children negatively
Stressors Associated with Perinatal IPV
Perinatal IPV can arise from stress related to parenting, financial issues, and shifts in family dynamics
Traditional gender roles may contribute to conflict, with men viewing women as solely responsible for child-rearing
Definition of Intimate Partner Femicide
refers to the homicide of a woman by her current or former intimate partner
most common form of homicide perpetrated against women.
Additional Victims and Outcomes
Secondary Victims: Approximately 10-25% of IPF cases involve an additional victim.
Perpetrator’s Suicide: About 30-40% of IPF cases include the suicide of the perpetrator.
Challenges in Prediction of IPF
while risk assessment tools exist for severe violence, they struggle to differentiate between predictions for IPV and IPF
Preventability and Intervention Opportunities for IPF
IPF cases are often preventable, typically occurring after missed opportunities for intervention by those aware of the situation (family, friends, professionals)
often arises during serious disputes
Warning Signs of Potential IPF
Warning signs may include stalking behaviors, ultimatums, or conditional threats (e.g., “if you don’t…”)
perpetrator must demonstrate a capacity for life-threatening violence, indicated by violent ideation, history of violence, or recent escalation in behavior
Underlying Issues of IPF Perpetrators
mental or emotional issues, serious substance use, and mental illnesses (e.g., psychosis, depression)
Nihilistic or suicidal thoughts are common among perpetrators
Definition of Secondary Victims
individuals who are not the primary targets of violence but suffer direct or indirect effects due to IPV
witnesses, bystanders, or those targeted for intervening, as well as children, family members, friends, and even strangers
Impact on Children as Secondary Victims
most common secondary victims of IPV
IPV is more prevalent in homes with children
81% of children present during IPV witness psychological violence, and ~82% witness physical violence
severe psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms
Impact on Preschool Children (Ages 2-5)
higher risk due to their reliance on parents for safety and lack of agency
negatively impacts self-esteem, social skills, and can lead to physical health issues
