COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the cognitive-behavioral and socio-psychological characteristics inherent in the individual experience of domestic violence. Violence is examined as a systemic destructive process that leads to the disintegration of core cognitive assumptions regarding the safety of the world and personal worth. The theoretical framework delineates the evolution of scientific perspectives, ranging from early psychoanalysis to contemporary concepts of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), neurobiological alterations in brain function, and the theory of the intergenerational transmission of aggression. Particular focus is placed on Martin Seligman’s “learned helplessness” and Lenore Walker’s “cycle of violence” as pivotal mechanisms that maintain individuals within destructive relationship dynamics. The empirical component of the study is based on an analysis of a sample consisting of 68 individuals with a history of abusive relationships. Utilizing the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2) and Jeffrey Young’s YSQ-S3 questionnaire, the study established statistically significant correlations between the intensity and frequency of violence and the formation of Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS). Notably, the most significant positive correlations were observed with the “Mistrust/Abuse” (r = 0,74) and “Defectiveness/Shame” (r = 0,62) schemas, confirming a profound transformation of the individual’s cognitive architecture under the influence of trauma. Based on the empirical findings, a multilevel model of psychotherapeutic intervention is proposed, integrating methods of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, and Logotherapy. The program is designed to facilitate emotional stabilization, the restructuring of maladaptive schemas, the restoration of personal autonomy, and the transition from a “victim” identity to a “survivor” identity.