Abstract:

Violence is becoming a phenomenon which scope is expanding day by day. However, when violence is mentioned, although physical violence based on the use of physical force appears in mind, there are different kinds of violence, and psychological violence is only one of these forms of violence. Psychological violence, which is often not noticed and thought to be based on love, is one of the problems caused and shaped by gender. There are also ideas that psychological violence is a form of relationship in the patriarchal social life order, where women are (re)stigmatization as victims and men as perpetrators in line with gender roles. It is difficult to define psychological violence due to the prevalence of harmful relationship styles based on masculine foundations. Psychological violence, which is difficult to detect through observation due to its nature, can have serious consequences. Although psychological violence starts with “simple” insults and threats, it can also reveal physical, economic and sexual violence. Violence that begins in the language includes a pathological process that extends to femicide. To combat psychological violence, it is necessary to understand this type of violence first. Therefore, defining psychological violence with examples with the support of different studies will draw a broad framework for understanding psychological violence. The main purpose of this study is to understand what it is by concretizing psychological violence. By detailing the behaviors and discourses that make violence psychological, it will make it easier to recognize the violence that is already present in romantic relationships and to touch on the social work practices that can be carried out in the fight against psychological violence, detailing the purpose of this study. It is important to be aware of the elements of psychological violence, which serve as a warning for professionals working with women who have been subjected to violence, to be able to combat violence earlier. To enable preventive practices, every action and discourse that can be included in the definition of psychological violence should be aware of and the current legislation should be implemented more effectively in line with the fight against violence.

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