Screams of Silence: Psychological Violence in the Couple

Abstract

Considering the marital dynamics that takes place in contexts of psychological violence, in this study, it was investigated how these marital relations are established and perpetuated. A qualitative research was undertaken through a case study of three heterosexual couples, living in Rio Grande do Sul, chosen by convenience and submitted to the CTS2, including the identification of psychological violence and excluding the identification of physical or sexual violence. The instruments used were a semi-structured interview with the couple, an interview to solve dilemmas, the family genogram and an individual interview. Data analysis was based on the dynamic understanding of the cases, through the synthesis of cross-cases, based on the family systems theory. It was concluded that marital relations were marked by intense conflict, poor communication and low expression of affect. This study points to the importance of treating the marital relationship in its structural and relational aspects, as a way to rearrange the dynamics of marriage, aiming to extinguish psychological violence as an expression of the marital relationship.