The humiliation of the abused woman: the internalization of self-devaluation as a key factor in victim inaction / La humillación de la mujer maltratada: la interiorización de la devaluación del yo como factor clave en la inacción de la víctima

Abstract

We used the theoretical perspective of humiliation to study the cognitive-emotional and behavioural responses of 242 women regarding episodes of sexist psychological abuse they experienced in relationships. First, we measured the degree of abuse experienced. This was followed by the two key cognitive assessments that underlie humiliation (internalization of self-devaluation and injustice), emotion (humiliation, shame, guilt and anger) and participants’ levels of passivity and confrontation. The results show that women who reported higher levels of self-devaluation internalization experienced more humiliation, shame and guilt. Conversely, those who did not demonstrate internalized devalued views of themselves showed higher levels of anger. We identified an indirect significant effect between abuse and passivity via humiliation, shame and guilt, and an indirect significant effect between abuse and confrontation via anger. Therefore, it appears that the internalization of self-devaluation is a key variable in understanding the emotional and behavioural responses of women who experience sexist violence.