P079 - Psychological abuse prevention: A criminological and educational perspective

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

Psychological abuse is a form of violence that involves the use of language and behaviours to harm, manipulate, or control another person. It can occur in various contexts, such as intimate relationships, family, work, or schools. Its recognition has been historically slow due to societal, cultural and systemic factors such as gender dynamics, limited legal recognition, stigma, and normalization of harmful behaviours.

Psychological abuse is as damaging as physical and sexual abuse, and one of the highest risks associated with it is that victims can perceive it as normal behaviour, especially when experienced in the formative years of development. This is a significant cause of concern particularly as child exposure to abuse, including psychological abuse and neglect correlates with high prevalence of lifelong trauma, psychosis, suicide and revictimization often overlapping with truancy and the risk of school exclusion. Despite the fact of not being immediately observed, consequences of psychological abuse manifest throughout all developmental stages in life from childhood to adulthood as victims often struggle at later points in life with issues related to their core identity, self-worth and stability of their emotional world.

Researchers have identified that psychological abuse can be measured through specific language and behaviours, and it can be prevented if concerns are raised early with education proposed as the primary method for prevention. However, the current policies around psychological abuse are mostly reactive addressing the issue at its latest stages, the sentencing stage, when the abuse has escalated into physical violence, or even homicide. This study makes the argument that by introducing early psychological abuse prevention programs in schools would address and fill an important gap at a policy level in our society with significant implications for social, health care and the criminal justice system as well as for the well-being of individuals and communities.

Author

• Mia Pal, London Metropolitan University