Battered woman syndrome is considered a type of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychologist Lenore Walker, EdD, coined the term in her groundbreaking 1979 book, The Battered Woman.
Battered woman’s syndrome is the psychological effects of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse inflicted by intimate partner. Men are also abused by their partners, and the term “battered person syndrome” is also sometimes used.
Research shows that women who were sexually or physically abused as children and/or who saw their own mother being abused by a partner are more likely to become involved an abusive relationship as adults according to https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/battered-woman-syndrome, Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO on March 15, 2024, Written by Marisa Cohen.
Battered woman syndrome also involves “coercive control’’. Coercive control is a pretty new concept.
Laura Richards is one of the prominent advocate for understanding the concept of coercive control and women captured in those relationships. Her achievements are impressive. Laura Richards is an award winning criminal behavioral analyst, former New Scotland Yard and an international expert on domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual violence homicide and risk assessment.
Laura trained at New Scotland Yard and the FBI Behavioral Analysis Units and is an advocate for victims and an author, producer and podcaster. Laura has a BSc in Psychology and Sociology and an MSc in Forensic and Legal Psychology.
Laura Richards’s focus is on women who are victims. Men are victims too, but violence against women are prevalent.
Coercive control is a relationship in which there are invisible chains and invisible bruises. It could be overt to those who know about coercive control or it can be very covert, hidden behind great life. Coercive control is when partner needs to know where she is at all times, cuts her off from friends and family, and retains financial control so she doesn’t have the money to leave. Partners may not only threaten to kill the woman and her children, other relatives, or pets if she leaves, but also threaten to kill themselves. For a woman in a battering relationship, the most dangerous time is when she tries to leave him. They are convinced by their partners that they are ‘’crazy’’.
Police must be educated on this topic in order to prevent femicide and organized support network must exist. Public should be educated as well as women who should be able to call for help.