Social Psychology IP2

Abusive Relationships

Social Psychology IP2

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Abusive Relationships

Abusive relationships involve one or more party in an intimate relationship engaging in emotional, physical, and verbal abuse. This type of relationship has been researched at great lengths by the social psychologist from early warning signs to understanding the dynamics of the abusive relationship. Social psychologists have studied the behaviors associated with the abusive relationship in order to better understand the abuser and the victims. Interpersonal relationships are an important area of study in social psychology especially the abusive relationship. Understanding the abusive relationship helps the social psychologist to understand how people form attitudes toward others especially when these are harmful as in the abusive relationship.

Research has shown that many abuser are insecure and fear their partner leaving resulting in the need to control. Using field studies, observations, and documentation researcher have been able to develop solid findings on the abusive relationship. Another common characteristic of the abuser is observing similar abuse in childhood. Social scientists have studied the dynamics of the abusive relationship in order to better understand why abusers display abusive behavior. Studies show that an abuser is insecure and fears being left by their partner (Formica, 2008). There morbid fear will turn into control and domination. The victim puts up with the abuse because they are equally insecure and believe they deserve the abuse (Formica, 2008). People that are self confident and secure in their relationships are not as vulnerable to becoming a victim of abuse.

Social psychologists are interested in all aspects of interpersonal relationships and the ways that psychology can improve those interactions (Bancroft, 2002). The interactions in the abusive relationship are destructive and the result of a pathological need of the abuser to ensure their victim does exactly as they say. When this control is broken the abuser poses a greater threat to their victim because they will do anything to regain control. Abusive relationships are not always physical and can be emotion or even sexual. Physical abusers will sexually abusive in some cases but are usually always emotional abusive as well.

The conclusion drawn from the research is all abusers have a desperate need to control their partners. They will go to great lengths to control their partner but this does not always require physical abuse. Domestic abusers prey on the vulnerabilities of their victims and to isolate them from friends and family. This isolation ensure the victims does not have access to people that can help them to escape the abusive relationship. The victims of abuse are easily to manipulate because they believe they deserve the abuse and are not worthy of a happy, healthy relationship.

Abusive relationships begin with a cycle where the abuser physically, mentally or sexually abuses their victim and then begs their forgiveness. There will be a “honey moon period” where the abusers caters to the victim treating them good until their frustration builds and they take it out on their victim again. Researchers discovered that many victims that stay with chronic psychological abuse still see certain positive traits in their abusers, such as dependability and being affectionate, which may partly explain why they stay (Nauert, 2011). Each victim may stay for different reasons but one common characteristic is the victim’s lack of self confidence in their right to be in a loving non abusive relationship.

Then conclusion reached in the research is reliable and valid because similar results have been found in other research. Abusers are insecure and have an uncontrollable need to dominate and control their victims and victims are insecure and believe they deserve the abuse. Understanding the abusive relationship does not necessarily require personal experience but it would be beneficial to helping researcher to identify the behavior common to the abusive relationship.

Studying the abusive relationship would be most effective by using case studies. Researchers can locate abusers that have been ordered by the court into anger management or have a history of domestic abuse and locate domestic abuse victims at shelters. Understanding the relationship between abuse, the abuser, and the victim allows the social psychologist to develop more effective interventions to change the behavior. Using case studies will provide accurate information on actual abusive relationships. Examining these relationships will provide the social psychologist with more in depth answers on why abusers abuse and why victims put up with the abuse. When the information comes directly from the abuser and the abuse victim the data will be less subjective and more accurate.

References

Bancroft, L. (2002). Why does he do that? : Inside the mind of angry and controlling men. New

York (NY) Penguin Group. Pages: 114-121

Formica, M. (2008). Understanding the Dynamics of Abusive Relationships: Kiss me, kill me,

kiss me, again - the dynamics of abusive relationships. Psychology Today

Nauert, R. (2011). Why Women Stay in Abusive Relationships. Retrieved August 31, 2014 from

http://www.livescience.com/8202-women-stay-abusive-relationships.html