Personal Experiencing of Domestic (Partnership) Violence

Abstract

Relevance. Domestic violence is becoming an increasingly relevant problem in our time. Despite the removal of taboo, this problem still remains understudied, especially in the context of phenomenology. The study considers different approaches to the problem of abusive relationships, types of violence, as well as constructs such as experience (F.E. Vasilyuk) and relationships (V.N. Myasishchev). Purpose of the study. This article presents the materials of the study, which aims to describe the peculiarities of a personality's experience of domestic violence. The study involved 108 people, among whom there were 79 women and 29 men (the average age of respondents was 30 years). Methods. Results were based on an online questionnaire and the Measurement of Maladaptive Guilt Questionnaire, as well as an in–depth phenomenological interview with female survivors of domestic violence. Data were processed using frequency, comparative (U–Mann–Whitney test) and correlation analysis, and factor analysis (principal component method). Results. It was found that the reliving of this experience in the respondents is presented on 3 levels of attitudes, and consequences such as loss of self and increased existential guilt were noted. Conclusions. The findings of the study indicate the potential for the application of phenomenology in psychotherapy with survivors of domestic violence.