Isolation to facilitate abuse

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Isolation (physical, social or emotional) is often used to facilitate power and control over someone for an abusive purpose. This applies in many contexts such as workplace bullying, [1] [2] elder abuse, [3] [4] domestic abuse, [5] [6] child abuse, [7] [8] and cults. [9] [10]

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Isolation reduces the opportunity of the abused to be rescued or escape from the abuse. It also helps disorient the abused and makes the abused more dependent on the abuser. The degree of power and control over the abused is contingent upon the degree of their physical or emotional isolation. [11] [12]

Isolation of the victim from the outside world is an important element of psychological control. [13] Isolation includes controlling a person's social activity: whom they see, whom they talk to, where they go and any other method to limit their access to others. It may also include limiting what material is read. [14] It can include insisting on knowing where they are and requiring permission for medical care. The abuser exhibits hypersensitive and reactive jealousy. [13]

Isolation can be aided by:

In cults

Various isolation techniques may be used by cults: [19] [20]

In workplace bullying

Isolation is a common element of workplace bullying. It includes preventing access to opportunities, physical or social isolation, withholding necessary information, keeping the target "out of the loop", ignoring or excluding. [1] [2]

Workplace isolation is a defined category in the workplace power and control wheel. [21]

Related Research Articles

Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other types of aggression. To these descriptions, one can also add the Kantian notion of the wrongness of using another human being as means to an end rather than as ends in themselves. Some sources describe abuse as "socially constructed", which means there may be more or less recognition of the suffering of a victim at different times and societies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bullying</span> Use of force or coercion to abuse or intimidate others

Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception of an imbalance of physical or social power. This imbalance distinguishes bullying from conflict. Bullying is a subcategory of aggressive behavior characterized by hostile intent, imbalance of power and repetition over a period of time.

Elder abuse is "a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person." This definition has been adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) from a definition put forward by Hourglass in the UK. Laws protecting the elderly from abuse are similar to and related to laws protecting dependent adults from abuse.

Psychological abuse, often called emotional abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another person to a behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Undue influence</span> Seizing control of a persons will for gain

Undue influence (UI) is a psychological process by which a person's free will and judgement is supplanted by that of another. It is a legal term and the strict definition varies by jurisdiction. Generally speaking, it is a means by which a person gains control over their victims' decision making through manipulation tactics and unfair pressure, typically for financial gain. Historically, UI has been poorly understood, even in some legal circles.

Verbal abuse is a type of psychological/mental abuse that involves the use of oral, gestured, and written language directed to a victim. Verbal abuse can include the act of harassing, labeling, insulting, scolding, rebuking, or excessive yelling towards an individual. It can also include the use of derogatory terms, the delivery of statements intended to frighten, humiliate, denigrate, or belittle a person. These kinds of attacks may result in mental and/or emotional distress for the victim.

The term cycle of violence refers to repeated and dangerous acts of violence as a cyclical pattern, associated with high emotions and doctrines of retribution or revenge. The pattern, or cycle, repeats and can happen many times during a relationship. Each phase may last a different length of time, and over time the level of violence may increase. The phrase has been increasingly widespread since first popularized in the 1970s.

Workplace bullying is a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes either physical or emotional harm. It can include such tactics as verbal, nonverbal, psychological, and physical abuse, as well as humiliation. This type of workplace aggression is particularly difficult because, unlike the typical school bully, workplace bullies often operate within the established rules and policies of their organization and their society. In the majority of cases, bullying in the workplace is reported as having been done by someone who has authority over the victim. However, bullies can also be peers, and subordinates. When subordinates participate in bullying this phenomenon is known as upwards bullying .The least visible segment of workplace bullying involves upwards bullying where bully- ing tactics are manipulated and applied against “the boss,” usually for strategically designed outcomes.

Dating abuse or dating violence is the perpetration or threat of an act of violence by at least one member of an unmarried couple on the other member in the context of dating or courtship. It also arises when one partner tries to maintain power and control over the other through abuse or violence, for example when a relationship has broken down. This abuse or violence can take a number of forms, such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, threats, physical violence, verbal, mental, or emotional abuse, social sabotage, and stalking. In extreme cases it may manifest in date rape. It can include psychological abuse, emotional blackmail, sexual abuse, physical abuse and psychological manipulation.

Sibling abuse includes the physical, psychological, or sexual abuse of one sibling by another. More often than not, the younger sibling is abused by the older sibling. Sibling abuse is the most common of family violence in the US, but the least reported. As opposed to sibling rivalry, sibling abuse is characterized by the one-sided treatment of one sibling to another.

Disability abuse is when a person with a disability is abused physically, financially, sexually and/or psychologically due to the person having a disability. This type of abuse has also been considered a hate crime. The abuse is not limited to those who are visibly disabled or physically deformed, but also includes those with learning, intellectual and developmental disabilities or mental illnesses.

Trauma bonds are emotional bonds that arise from a cyclical pattern of abuse. A trauma bond occurs in an abusive relationship wherein the victim forms an emotional bond with the perpetrator. The concept was developed by psychologists Donald Dutton and Susan Painter.

Economic abuse is a form of abuse when one intimate partner has control over the other partner's access to economic resources, which diminishes the victim's capacity to support themselves and forces them to depend on the perpetrator financially.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual bullying</span>

Sexual bullying is a form of bullying or harassment in connection with a person's sex, body, sexual orientation or with sexual activity. It can be physical, verbal or emotional in nature, and occurs in various settings, including schools, workplaces, and online platforms. Sexual bullying can have serious and lasting effects on the mental and emotional well-being of victims.

Workplace harassment is the belittling or threatening behavior directed at an individual worker or a group of workers.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to domestic violence:

Abusive power and control is behavior used by an abusive person to gain and/or maintain control over another person. Abusers are commonly motivated by devaluation, personal gain, personal gratification, psychological projection, or the enjoyment of exercising power and control. The victims of this behavior are often subject to psychological, physical, mental, sexual, or financial abuse.

Machiavellianism in the workplace is a concept studied by many organizational psychologists. Conceptualized originally by Richard Christie and Florence Geis, Machiavellianism refers to a psychological trait concept where individuals behave in a cold and duplicitous manner. It has in recent times been adapted and applied to the context of the workplace and organizations by many writers and academics.

Domestic violence within lesbian relationships is the pattern of violent and coercive behavior in a female same-sex relationship wherein a lesbian or other non-heterosexual woman seeks to control the thoughts, beliefs, or conduct of her female intimate partner. In the case of multiple forms of domestic partner abuse, it is also referred to as lesbian battering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domestic violence in same-sex relationships</span>

Domestic violence in same-sex relationships or intragender violence is a pattern of violence or abuse that occurs within same-sex relationships. Domestic violence is an issue that affects people of any sexuality, but there are issues that affect victims of same-sex domestic violence specifically. These issues include homophobia, internalized homophobia, HIV and AIDS stigma, STD risk and other health issues, lack of legal support, and the violence they face being considered less serious than heterosexual domestic violence. Moreover, the issue of domestic violence in same-sex relationships has not been studied as comprehensively as domestic violence in heterosexual relationships. However, there are legal changes being made to help victims of domestic violence in same-sex relationships, as well as organizations that cater specifically to victims of domestic violence in same-sex relationships.

References

  1. 1 2 Rayner C, Hoel H, Cooper CL Workplace Bullying: What we know, who is to blame and what can we do? (2001)
  2. 1 2 Peyton PR Dignity at Work: Eliminate Bullying and Create a Positive Working Environment (2003)
  3. ↑ "What is Elder Abuse?". CANHR. 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  4. ↑ National Research Council (US) Panel to Review Risk Prevalence of Elder Abuse Neglect; Bonnie, R. J.; Wallace, R. B. (2003). Appendix B: Analysis of Elder Abuse and Neglect Definitions Under State Law | Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in an Aging America | The National Academies Press. Nap.edu. doi:10.17226/10406. ISBN   978-0-309-08434-5. PMID   22812026 . Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  5. ↑ "Intimate Partner Violence and Common Tactics Used by Abusive Partners | Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center". Sapac.umich.edu. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  6. ↑ Perspectives on Verbal and Psychological Abuse, ed. Dr. Roland Maiuro, PhD, pub. 1989
  7. ↑ Elliott GC, Cunningham SM, Linder M, Colangelo M, Gross M (2005). "Child physical abuse and self-perceived social isolation among adolescents". Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 20 (12): 1663–84. doi:10.1177/0886260505281439. PMID   16246923. S2CID   27544550.
  8. ↑ "Emotional abuse". NSPCC. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  9. ↑ "Cult Information Centre: Caring for Cult Victims". Cultinformation.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  10. ↑ "How Cults Work". Cultwatch. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  11. ↑ Ellsberg, Daniel (1959-03-10). "The Theory and Practice of Blackmail". RAND. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  12. ↑ Ryan Richard Thoreson (2010-06-02). "Blackmail and Extortion of LGBT People in Sub-Saharan Africa | OutRight". Outrightinternational.org. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  13. 1 2 Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. World Health Organization. 2013. ISBN   978-92-4-156462-5. p. 7.
  14. ↑ Power and Control. Duluth Model. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  15. ↑ Economic abuse wheel
  16. ↑ Bailey-Rug C (2016) It's Not You, It's Them: When People Are More Than Selfish
  17. ↑ Joseph Burgo (2016) The Narcissist You Know: Defending Yourself Against Extreme Narcissists in an All-About-Me Age
  18. ↑ Hall J It’s You and Me Baby: Narcissist Head Games The Narcissist Family Files 27 Mar 2017
  19. ↑ "9 Ways Groups Become Cults". Criminal Justice Degrees Guide. 2016-09-25. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  20. ↑ "Isolation - Cult Mind Control Techniques" . Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  21. ↑ Power & Control in the Workplace American Institute on Domestic Violence
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