Brazilian women’s transition to new relationships after ending a violent one: a case study

Transição para novas relações após o término de namoros violentos em mulheres brasileiras: um estudo de caso

Transition vers de nouvelles relations après l’achèvement des relations amoureuses violentes chez les femmes brésiliennes : une étude de cas

Transición hacia nuevas relaciones después del término de noviazgos violentos de mujeres brasileñas: un estudio de caso

Abstract

This study investigated characteristics of the transition to new relationships after the end of a violent one through case studies. Two young white Brazilian women who had experienced violent first relationships underwent a narrative interview and filled out the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory. One of them had moved to a healthy relationship and the second one to another violent relationship. Awareness of violence and the adoption of strategies that enlarged models, world views, social circles, support and self care had not been enough to avoid the entrance in a new violent relationship. The development of the ability to access and validate one’s own feelings and wills, resulting in greater assertiveness, favored the transition to a healthy relationship. The approach to secure attachment style accompanied such changes. We discuss the implications to professional practice and preventive initiatives, as well as directions for future research.

Keywords:
intimate partner violence; violence against women; prevention; attachment