Victim-centred approach to tackling domestic violence
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the most common forms of violence against women. This can take the form physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as controlling behaviours. A key challenge to fully understanding and tackling this problem is that only about a third of IPV victims contact the authorities. The ability of researchers and social workers to define the extent of the problem and propose actions has therefore been somewhat constrained.
IPV from the perspective of victims
The IPV INTERVENTION project, supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions(opens in new window) programme and coordinated by Istanbul University(opens in new window) in Türkiye, sought to better understand the issue from the perspective of female victims. This could lead to more effective prevention and intervention programmes in the future. For this, Nermin Taşkale, the principal investigator, was seconded to the University of Houston System(opens in new window) in the United States. This institution has a longstanding history of participatory research. “Addressing IPV starts with defining the problem,” says IPV INTERVENTION project coordinator Hanife Özlem Sertel Berk(opens in new window) from Istanbul University. “In this project, we focused on what is known as situational violence between heterosexual couples.” A key aim here was to better understand the psychological background of female victims in violent situations in a deeper way. Information and case samples were gathered and then analysed with this in mind.
Coping with violent and coercive situations
This work revealed a diversity of victim experiences within the sample cases. However, while the project found that experiences of female victims of IPV may vary, categorising IPV victims in terms of any mental disorders or maladaptive behaviours they might exhibit proved difficult. “It is easier to categorise victims depending on the extent of violence that they were exposed to,” adds Sertel Berk. “These findings are in line with feminist perspectives that identify the underlying catalyst of violence as gender-based in heterosexual relationships. IPV in heterosexual relationships mostly stems from male behaviour.” The project also found that victims try to cope with potentially violent and coercive situations through a variety of strategies. “They often appear not to focus on the long term, but instead try to handle the situation in the short term and cope with the immediate environment in order to survive,” explains Sertel Berk. Furthermore, certain psychopathologies – or mental health conditions – may predispose women to victimisation. “In other words, mental health conditions may disable the ability of a woman victim to step out of the relationship,” says Sertel Berk. “This keeps them in the cycle of violence.”
Understanding the psychopathology-victimisation link
At the beginning, the project set out to develop intervention manuals for victims, perpetrators and couples. However, both Sertel Berk and Taşkale believe that further research is needed before effective intervention plans can be established. “A positive next step would be to better understand the psychopathology-victimisation link,” adds Sertel Berk. “In other words, how mental health might shape the decisions that IPV victims make about their relationships. This should be a priority for future investigations.” In the meantime, Sertel Berk believes that the project is an important step forward in understanding the trauma and decision-making processes of victims. “We very much followed a ‘one-size-doesn’t-fit-all’ model,” notes Sertel Berk. “Our hope is that this will eventually lead to alternative and better-fitting solutions to a range of different situations.”
