Identifying cultural factors affecting psychological violence against women in the family
Subject Areas : Social issues and injuries related to women and the family
mohammad ali talebi
1
*
,
razieh shybani
2
1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - M.A in Psychometrics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Gonabad Branch, Gonabad, Iran.
Keywords: Psychological Violence, Women, Family, Family Counselors, Psychologists.,
Abstract :
Analyze the Factors affecting Marital Psychological Violence Against Women Based on the Experiences of Family Counselors and Psychologists
in Bajestan City
Raziyeh Sheibani BajestanBottom of Form
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Psychological violence against women within the family is a complex phenomenon that threatens women’s mental health and social status. This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach and semi-structured interviews with twenty counselors and psychologists in Bajestan City, and 1,024 codes were extracted using MAXQDA software (version 2022). The findings showed that psychological violence includes verbal humiliation, behavioral control, emotional neglect, indirect threats, and digital psychological violence. Influencing factors included individual characteristics (emotional insecurity of perpetrators and financial dependency of victims), family factors (power inequality and lack of healthy dialogue), and social attitudes (patriarchal beliefs and the normalization of violence). The consequences included depression, anxiety, reduced self-esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder, social isolation, and the severance of family relationships. The proposed solutions included communication skills training, social and legal support, therapeutic interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and the use of technology for prevention and support. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive approaches and the development of educational programs, supportive laws, and online platforms to help women exit the cycle of violence.
Keywords: Psychological Violence; Women; Family; Family Counselors; Psychologists.
Objectives
Psychological violence against women within the family is one of the most significant and yet most hidden forms of domestic violence, with profound and long-lasting effects on women’s mental health, social functioning, and quality of life (Bashiri & Kouhi, 2017). Throughout human history, violence has been a persistent social phenomenon embedded in structures of domination, coercion, and inequality, often normalized within everyday social relations (Azzazi, 2003). In this context, the family—despite being the most fundamental and enduring social institution—can also become a setting for the reproduction of violence and unequal power relations (Saroukhani, 2007). Psychological violence differs from physical violence in that it is less visible and often goes unrecognized as violence, both by victims and by society. Behaviors such as humiliation, emotional neglect, threats, excessive control, and violation of personal boundaries may be perceived as normal or acceptable within marital relationships, particularly in patriarchal and traditional cultural contexts (Kazemi & Ghasemi, 2023). In many developing societies, psychological violence against women is frequently ignored or underestimated, despite its deep and damaging consequences for women’s psychological well-being and family relationships (Bashiri & Kouhi, 2017). Cultural, social, and structural factors play a crucial role in the emergence and persistence of psychological violence. Patriarchal beliefs, gender stereotypes, and unequal power relations within the family legitimize male dominance and contribute to the normalization of emotional abuse against women. Moreover, variations in cultural, social, economic, and educational contexts place women at increased risk of psychological violence, which not only harms their mental health but also negatively affects family stability and children’s well-being. Despite the prevalence and severity of psychological violence, many women remain trapped in cycles of abuse due to fear of social stigma, lack of legal and social support, feelings of guilt, and financial dependency on their spouses (Kazemi & Ghasemi, 2023). In such contexts, victims are often blamed for the violence they experience, while perpetrators are absolved of responsibility, further reinforcing structural inequality and silence surrounding psychological violence. Given the widespread nature of psychological violence and its serious psychological and social consequences, there is a clear need for in-depth qualitative research to identify the factors underlying this phenomenon. Accordingly, the main objective of this study is to identify and analyze the factors influencing psychological marital violence against women based on the lived experiences of family counselors and psychologists in Bajestan city, with the aim of contributing to culturally informed prevention and intervention strategies.
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Methods
This study employed a qualitative research design using a phenomenological approach in order to explore the factors influencing psychological violence against women within the family. The phenomenological method was selected because it enables an in-depth understanding of individuals’ lived experiences and the meanings they attribute to social phenomena, particularly hidden and complex forms of violence such as psychological abuse. The research population consisted of family counselors and psychologists in Iran who had direct professional experience in working with women exposed to psychological violence. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, with the inclusion criterion of having at least three years of professional experience in counseling or psychological services related to family and domestic violence. Sampling continued until theoretical saturation was achieved, at which point no new conceptual information emerged from the interviews. In total, twenty counselors and psychologists participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews, which allowed participants to freely express their professional experiences and observations while providing the researcher with sufficient flexibility to explore emerging themes. The interview questions focused on the forms of psychological violence against women, cultural and social factors contributing to its occurrence and persistence, and the perceived consequences and coping strategies related to this type of violence. All interviews were conducted with participants’ informed consent, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was carried out simultaneously with data collection using MAXQDA software (version 2022). The analytical process involved open coding to identify initial meaning units, followed by axial coding to organize codes into related categories and broader themes. Through this process, a total of 1,024 initial codes were extracted and systematically categorized into main themes and subthemes reflecting individual, familial, and sociocultural dimensions of psychological violence. To ensure the credibility and trustworthiness of the findings, several strategies were employed, including continuous comparison of data, peer review of the coding process, and validation of the extracted themes by experts in the fields of sociology, psychology, and family counseling. These procedures enhanced the rigid of the qualitative analysis and strengthened the reliability of the study’s results.
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Results
The analysis of the interview data resulted in the extraction of 1,024 initial codes, which were organized through open and axial coding into several interconnected themes. The findings indicated that psychological violence against women within the family manifests in diverse and overlapping forms. These forms included verbal humiliation, behavioral control, emotional neglect, indirect threats, and digital psychological violence. In addition, participants emphasized the increasing prevalence of digital psychological violence, including monitoring mobile phones, controlling social media interactions, and using digital technologies to exert continuous psychological pressure on women. The findings further revealed that psychological violence is influenced by a combination of individual, family, and sociocultural factors. Participants reported that women with limited economic independence were more vulnerable to continued exposure to psychological violence. The absence of healthy and constructive dialogue between spouses led to unresolved conflicts. In addition, interference from extended family members, particularly the husband’s family, weakened women’s positions within the family and exacerbated psychological abuse. At the sociocultural level, patriarchal norms, gender stereotypes, and the normalization of psychological violence were identified as influential factors. Cultural beliefs that legitimize male authority and expect female obedience contributed to the justification and invisibility of psychological violence. Participants noted that such cultural norms often prevent women from recognizing their experiences as violence and discourage them from seeking help. The consequences of psychological violence were found to be extensive and severe. These consequences often reinforced women’s dependency and further trapped them in a cycle of psychological violence.
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Conclusion
The findings of this study indicate that psychological violence against women is a complex, multidimensional, and structural phenomenon that is deeply rooted in unequal power relations within the family, patriarchal cultural norms, and gendered processes of socialization. The study demonstrates that psychological violence gradually erodes women’s mental health, self-esteem, emotional security, and social participation. These consequences not only affect women individually but also undermine family stability and social cohesion. The results further emphasize that effective responses to psychological violence require comprehensive and multi-level strategies. Educational interventions aimed at improving communication skills, increasing awareness of psychological violence, and challenging patriarchal beliefs are essential at both individual and community levels. In addition, strengthening social and legal support systems, expanding access to counseling and mental health services, and developing culturally sensitive policies are necessary to protect women and reduce the normalization of violence. Overall, the findings underscore the need for culturally informed, interdisciplinary approaches to break the cycle of psychological violence against women and promote mental health, gender equity, and family well-being.
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*Corresponding Author: Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0000000168222046
** M.A in Psychometrics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Gonabad Branch, Gonabad, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9007-6067
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