Group psychological abuse: Taxonomy and severity of its components

8/9/2019 Group psychological abuse: Taxonomy and severity of its components

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Group psychological abuse: Taxonomy andseverity of its components

Álvaro Rodríguez-Carballeiraa, Omar Saldañaa, Carmen Almendros b, Javier Martín-Peñac, Jordiscartína, Clara Porr!a-"arcíaa

a #niversit$ o% &arcelona, S'ain b Autonomous #niversit$ o% Madrid, S'ainc #niversit$ o% (aragoza, S'ain

Abstract

)*e 'ur'ose o% t*is stud$ +as to delimit grou' 's$c*ological abuse t*roug* a 's$c*osociala''roac* An o'erational de%inition o% t*e '*enomenon and a ta onom$ o% grou' 's$c*ologicaabuse strategies +ere 'ro'osed based on a revie+ o% t*e scienti%ic literature A 'anel o% ./e 'erts in t*e area evaluated t*e content o% t*e ta onom$ and 0udged t*e severit$ o% t*e stratt*roug* a 1el'*i stud$ "rou' 's$c*ological abuse +as de%ined b$ t*e a''lication o% abusivestrategies, t*eir continued duration, and t*eir ultimate aim, i e , sub0ugation o% t*e individuata onom$ s*o+ed ade2uate content validit$ 'erts3 0udgments allo+ed %or *ierarc*icall$organizing t*e strategies based on t*eir severit$, being t*e most severe t*ose directed to t*eemotional area O'erationalizing, classi%$ing, and organizing t*e strategies *ierarc*icall$contributes to a better delimitation o% t*e '*enomenon, +*ic* is use%ul %or bot* t*e academica''lied %ields

Article

"rou' Ps$c*ological Abuse 4*erea%ter "PA5 re%ers to a 'rocess t*at can occur in grou' settings+it* an intense, continued interaction associated +it* recruiting and maintaining %ollo+ers46angone 7 C*ambers, /88/5 )*is 'rocess involves a set o% be*aviors or strategies t*at combin%orms relevant to t*e %ield o% aggression, ranging %rom undue in%luence to inter'ersonal cocoercion, and abuse 4)a$lor, 9::;5

)*ese be*aviors *ave been studied on t*e basis o% t*e inter'ersonal relations t*at ta<e 'lace indi%%erent grou' settings, in 'articular t*ose t*at *ave been called mani'ulative grou's4Almendros, "=mez-"uadi , Carrobles, 7 Rodríguez-Carballeira, 9://5 Some aut*ors *avestudied t*ese be*aviors in elite s'orts teams 4Stirling 7 >err, 9:/;5, in $out* gangs 4#lloa,1$son, 7 ?$nes, 9:/95, or in terrorist grou's 4Rodríguez-Carballeira et al , 9::8@ )ru0illo,Ramírez, 7 Alonso, 9::85

Ps$c*ological abuse a''lied in grou' settings *as mainl$ been studied in mani'ulative grou's, 'er*a's due to t*e une 'ected nature o% some destructive be*aviors t*at can occur in t*em



4&o*m 7 Alison, 9::/5 Some e treme evidence o% t*ese be*aviors can be seen in t*e so-callecollective suicides o% Peo'le3s )em'le members in "u$ana in /8 B, eaven3s "ate members inSan 1iego 4#S5 in /88 , or Ordre du )em'le Solaire members in various locations 4S+itzerland,Drance, and Canada5 in /88; and /88E 41ein 7 6ittle+ood, 9:::5 Multi'le testimonies %rom%ormer members o% t*ese t$'es o% grou's re'ort *aving su%%ered 'ersistent %orms o%

's$c*ological abuse 4e g , C*ambers, 6angone, 1ole, 7 "rice, /88;@ Matt*e+s 7 Salazar,9:/;5 Ot*er studies *ave %ound clinicall$ signi%icant 's$c*ological s$m'toms andFor ad0ustm 'roblems attributable to t*ese abusive be*aviors in t*is 'o'ulation 4Arono%%, 6inn, 7 Malinos<9:::5

1es'ite t*e social relevance o% "PA, t*e scienti%ic communit$ *as not reac*ed a strongconsensus about t*e elements de%ining t*e '*enomenon or t*e abusive be*aviors %ound in grosettings, even less t*an t*e degree o% agreement about 's$c*ological abuse against t*e 'artner4>ell$, 9::;5 Gn addition, t*e severit$ o% t*ese be*aviors, +*ic* is essential in 'redicting t*edamage su%%ered b$ t*eir victims, *as not been ade2uatel$ evaluated Gn order to contributeim'roving t*e delimitation o% "PA, t*is stud$ aims to ans+er t*e %ollo+ing t*ree 2uestionsH

?*at are t*e basic elements o% "PAI

o+ can "PA be*aviors be classi%iedI

1o t*ese abusive be*aviors di%%er in terms o% t*eir severit$I

Group Psychological Abuse

)*e stud$ o% t*e social in%luence 'rocesses in grou' settings *as %ocused on mec*anisms suc*con%ormit$, obedience, com'liance, t*e 'o+er o% grou' d$namics, or t*e %actors e 'laining

grou' in%luence, suc* as t*e strengt*, number, and immediac$ o% t*e sources o% in%luence46atan , /8B/5 o+ever, most studies, +*ic* usuall$ anal$ze legitimate and non-continuouse'isodes o% social interaction, are not su%%icient to e 'lain some %orms o% in%luence t*at, econtinuousl$ over time in grou's and due to t*eir intensit$, can include abusive com'onents

)o designate t*e %orms o% undue in%luence, control, coercion, and abuse occurring on a conti basis in grou' settings, t*e term "rou' Ps$c*ological Abuse *as been 'ro'osed 46angone 7C*ambers, /88/5 Gn addition, ot*er terms *ave been used in recent literature, suc* as emotionabuse 4Stirling 7 >err, 9:/;5 or intense indoctrination 4&aron, 9:::5 )*e %ocus on 's$c*ological abuse involves t*e anal$sis o% t*e abusive be*aviors ta<ing 'lace in grou' settings+it*out 're0udging t*e d$namics c*aracterizing t*e entire grou' in +*ic* t*e$ occur 4(abloc<i

7 Robbins, 9::/5 o+ever, t*e %irst a''roac*es to t*e stud$ o% t*e '*enomenon came %rominvestigations anal$zing t*e 'ractices o% certain grou's labeled as cults or mani'ulative grou's

Most de%initions o% 's$c*ological abuse in t*is t$'e o% grou's mention t*e use o% in%luence abuse strategies )*ese strategies *ave been described as s$stematic and intentional 46angone,/8895, 'lanned, coordinated, and *idden 4Singer 7 6alic*, /88E5, or mani'ulative ande 'loitative 4Almendros et al , 9://5 Some de%initions *ave %ocused on t*e intended 'ur'oses



t*e abuse, suc* as controlling t*e grou' members 4Singer 7 6alic*, /88E5 or subordinating t*eir+ell-being to t*e bene%it o% t*e leader 4Almendros et al , 9://5

Ot*er de%initions o% "PA *ig*lig*t its adverse conse2uences %or t*e 'eo'le a%%ected )*us, i been de%ined as a set o% tec*ni2ues t*at in%luence *o+ 'eo'le t*in<, %eel, and act, altering t*

identit$ 4 assan, 9:/.5 6i<e+ise, 6angone 4/8895 stated t*at 's$c*ological abuse involvesH 4acontrolling in%ormation in order to mani'ulate t*in<ing and 0udgment, 4b5 coercing c*oice, 4c%ragmenting and altering 'ersonal identit$, and 4d5 undermining %eelings o% sel%-+ort*

)*e di%%erences in t*e 'ro'osed de%initions seem to con%irm t*at 's$c*ological abuse, bot* ingrou's and in ot*er settings +*ere it *as been studied, is an elusive '*enomenon +it* dim limits4Almendros et al , 9://@ Dollingstad, 9:: 5 Probabl$ %or t*is reason, t*e 'ro'osed de%initioninvolve limitations suc* as being e cessivel$ broad and im'recise, including elements t*at are*ardl$ o'erational, or tr$ing to delimit t*e abusive action b$ combining it +it* its 'ossibleconse2uences

Classifications of the Group Psychological Abuse Strategies

As long as t*e di%%erent abusive be*aviors and strategies are one o% t*e <e$ elements in de%"PA, it seems a''ro'riate to delimit t*em as accuratel$ as 'ossible, so t*at t*e$ can beidenti%ied, evaluated, and 'revented Most studies attem'ting to delimit t*ese strategies *ave 'ro'osed lists o% abusive be*aviors t*at can be a''lied in a grou' 4e g , 6angone, /8B9@ ?est 7Singer, /8B:5 Ot*er investigations *ave %ocused on s'eci%$ing t*e conditions t*at s*ould be in t*e grou' to en*ance t*e im'lementation o% t*ese be*aviors 4O%s*e 7 Singer, /8BK@ Singe6alic*, /88E5

)*e 'ro'osed classi%ications o% 's$c*ological abuse strategies *ave mainl$ been based on %our

vie+'oints according toH 4a5 t*e integration stage o% t*e sub0ect in t*e grou' +*ere t*esestrategies are usuall$ a''lied 4&aron, 9:::@ Clar<, 6angone, Sc*ecter, 7 1al$, /8B/@ (erin,/8B.5@ 4b5 t*e s'eci%ic t$'e o% strateg$ 4Andersen, /8BE5@ 4c5 t*e degree o% coercionc*aracterizing t*em 46angone, as cited in Rodríguez-Carballeira, /8895@ and 4d5 'ersonal orsituational com'onents to +*ic* t*e action o% eac* strateg$ is directed 4Coates, 9:/9@ assan,9:/.@ Rodríguez-Carballeira, /8895

Ot*er a''roac*es to t*e classi%ication o% "PA strategies come %rom t*e measurement instrume 'ro'osed %or t*e assessment o% t*e '*enomenon )*e "rou' Ps$c*ological Abuse Scale 4"PA-S@Almendros et al , 9:/9@ C*ambers et al , /88;5 is divided into %our sub-scalesH Com'liance,

'loitation, An ious 1e'endenc$, and Mind Control@ +*ile t*e Across "rou's Ps$c*ological

Abuse and Control Scale 4A"PAC@ ?ol%son, as cited in Almendros et al , 9://5 is divided intot*ree subscalesH motional Abuse, Gsolation-Control o% Activit$, and Lerbal Abuse Gn t*edevelo'ment o% t*e Gndividual Cult 'erience Gnde 4GC @ ?inocur, ?*itne$, Sorensen,Laug*n, 7 Do$, /88 5, 2uestions related to controlling grou' members, emotional mani'ulation,and e 'eriences o% verbal, '*$sical, or se ual abuse +ere considered o+ever, t*ese aut*orssuggested inter'reting t*e overall instrument score as t*e e tent o% e 'osure to culte 'eriencesN



Some o% t*e limitations identi%ied in 'revious studies designed to delimit or evaluate "PA areHincluding strategies labeled as abusive +it*out de%ining t*em o'erationall$@ 4b5 covering onl$some abusive strategies t*at can occur in grou's@ 4c5 %ormulating some strategies b$ combinidi%%erent t$'es o% abusive be*aviors@ and 4d5 *ig*lig*ting t*e adverse conse2uences %or 'e*ealt* and +ell-being, eit*er b$ mi ing t*em +it* abusive strategies or considering t*em as

strategies t*emselves &ased on t*ese limitations, t*ere is a clear need to develo' more 'recise,com're*ensive, and o'erational classi%ications o% "PA strategies

Severity of the Group Psychological Abuse Strategies

"PA usuall$ 'roduces substantial costs %or t*e a%%ected 'eo'le, eit*er in terms o% mone$, timemissed o''ortunities, sel%-*arm, or *arm to t*eir loved ones 4&aron, 9:::5 Most studiesevaluating %ormer members o% grou's in +*ic* abusive be*aviors +ere a''lied *ave %ound t*asigni%icant 'art o% t*is 'o'ulation e 'erienced 's$c*ological and social di%%iculties a%ter leavt*e grou' 4Arono%% et al , 9:::5 Some o% t*e di%%iculties involve establis*ing social relaticognitive de%icits, %eelings o% loss, anger, blame and s*ame, de'ression, an iet$, dissociation

sel%-destructive tendencies, or 'ost-traumatic, stress disorder 4e g , Coates, 9:/:@ Malinos<i, gone, 7 6$nn, /888@ Matt*e+s 7 Salazar, 9:/;5

A 'erson can e 'erience a variet$ o% abusive be*aviors in a grou' t*at can lead to di%%erent coor damages )*ere%ore, t*e severit$, de%ined *ere as t*e degree o% damage t*at can 'otentiallcaused b$ eac* abusive be*avior, is li<el$ to di%%er among t*em 4Dollingstad, 9:: 5 A 'riorsome be*aviors c*aracteristic o% emotional abuse, suc* as t*reats or *umiliation, +ould bee 'ected to *ave a di%%erent 'otential to cause damage %rom ot*er be*aviors aimed at t*e cono% in%ormation, %or instance Gn t*is regard, t*e severit$ o% abusive action is one o% t*e vt*at mig*t 'redict t*e degree o% seriousness o% t*e e%%ects on *ealt* and +ell-being o% 'eo'lee 'eriencing abuse

)o date, no stud$ *as directl$ addressed t*e severit$ o% abusive be*aviors in grou' settings Gnaddition, +*en e amining t*e seriousness o% t*e 'ossible conse2uences o% "PA, ver$ %e+ stud*ave di%%erentiated among t*e various abusive be*aviors e 'erienced 4e g , ?inocur et al , /

Study Objectives

&ased on t*is revie+ o% t*e bac<ground and t*e limitations identi%ied, t*is stud$ 'ro'oses t*re<e$ ob0ectivesH 4a5 to delimit t*e basic de%ining elements c*aracterizing "PA@ 4b5 to develvalidate a ta onom$ o% 's$c*ological abuse strategies utilized in grou' settings@ and 4c5 to*ierarc*icall$ organize t*e com'onents o% t*e ta onom$ based on t*e degree o% severit$

according to e 'erts3 o'inionsethod

Participants

Gn order to validate t*e ta onom$ and *ierarc*icall$ organize its com'onents, +e *ad t*ecollaboration o% an intentional sam'le o% 'ro%essionals and academicians o% recognized e 'e



in t*e %ield o% abuse in grou' settings 'ert 'anels *ave been used e tensivel$ to validatede%initions and t$'ologies 4e g , 1al$ 7 Jogerst, 9::E5 Dirst, ;K e 'erts +ere contacted basedt+o criteriaH 4a5 at least E $ears o% 'ro%essional e 'erience in t*e %ield o% 'revention, counsor treatment o% 'eo'le involved in grou's +*ere abusive be*aviors too< 'lace@ or 4b5 at least E$ears o% e 'erience as a researc*er, and 'artici'ation in t*ree or more relevant studies dealing

+it* t*is sub0ect)*e %inal sam'le included ./ e 'erts, /K +omen and /E men, +*o e 'ressed t*eir interest in andavailabilit$ to ta<e 'art in t*e stud$ anon$mousl$ and voluntaril$@ ; 9 o% t*e 'artici'ants +e 'ro%essionals +it* e 'ertise in t*e care o% 'eo'le e 'eriencing grou' abusive 'ractices, /K /+ere academicians, and t*e ot*er 8 combined bot* activities in t*eir 'ro%essional careerMost o% t*e e 'erts 4EB / 5 +ere %rom t*e %ield o% Ps$c*olog$ )*e rest +ere distributed at*e %ollo+ing areasH Sociolog$ 4K E 5, Medicine 4. 9 5, )*eolog$ 4K E 5, 6a+ 4. 9 5,Ant*ro'olog$ 4. 9 5, Journalism 4K E 5, Social ducation 4. 9 5, and Securit$ Dorces 4K

Procedure

Gn order to a''roac* t*e %irst t+o stud$ ob0ectives 4de%inition and develo'ment o% t*e ta onoa revie+ o% t*e e isting scienti%ic literature on "PA +as conducted Searc*es +ere carried outt*e main databases 4i e , Ps$cGn%o, Sco'us, and Medline5, using combinations o% t*e %olloterms as searc* termsH intense indoctrination, coercive 'ersuasion, e treme in%luence, unet*icin%luence, undue in%luence, coercive in%luence, t*oug*t-re%orm, mind control, cult, sect, grne+ religious movements, mani'ulative, closed, abusive, sectarian, coercive, dogmatic,c*arismatic, destructive, and *ig*-demand "ra$ literature, suc* as un'ublis*ed doctoraldissertations, +as also collected b$ contacting t*e aut*ors Drom t*e searc*es 'er%ormed, studiaimed at delimiting andFor measuring "PA +ere selected

)*en, %our members o% t*e researc* grou' +it* 'revious e 'erience in t*e stud$ o% t*e di%%er%orms o% 's$c*ological abuse e tracted t*e de%initions, classi%ications, com'onents, and abustrategies contained in t*e selected studies )*e de%initions +ere anal$zed s$stematicall$,agreeing t*ose elements t*at de%ined "PA to 'ro'ose a ne+ o'erational de%inition A consensuata onom$ t*at included and contained t*e 'reviousl$ e tracted "PA strategies +as develo'edAn o'erational de%inition +as dra%ted %or eac* o% t*e cate gories in t*e ta onom$ in order toaccuratel$ e 'lain t*e abusive strategies or be*aviors involved

)*e %irst tas< re2uested %rom t*e e 'ert 'anel 'artici'ating in t*is stud$ +as to revie+ t*edevelo'ed ta onom$, includingH 4a5 t*e relevance o% eac* categor$ as a com'onent o% "PA@ot*er relevant com'onents o% "PA t*at *ad not been considered in t*e ta onom$@ and 4c5 'ossible c*anges in bot* t*e name and de%inition o% t*e categories, in case t*e$ +ere %ound tina''ro'riate )o do so, eac* e 'ert received a document b$ e-mail t*at included instructions to be %ollo+ed, as +ell as t*e names and o'erational de%initions o% t*e categories %orming t*eta onom$ )*e e 'erts3 annotations +ere anal$zed and integrated in t*e %inal version o% t*eta onom$

Gn order to a''roac* t*e t*ird stud$ ob0ective 4*ierarc*icall$ organizing t*e "PA strategies5, a1el'*i met*od +as used, +*ic* consists o% an anon$mous, s$stematic, iterative 'rocess o% grou



interaction aimed at obtaining individual 0udgments %rom an e 'ert 'anel and grou' ans+ers t*acould be inter'reted statisticall$ 41iamond et al , 9:/;5 )*is met*od *as been s*o+n to beuse%ul in situations +*ere individual o'inions can be combined to investigate a '*enomenon t*ais di%%icult to delimit or an area t*at is not %ull$ understood, as in t*e %ields o% 'artner viole4Murra$, Smit*, 7 Avent, 9:/:@ Rodríguez-Carballeira, Porr!a-"arcía, scartín, Martín-Peña, 7

Almendros, 9:/;5, +or<'lace bull$ing 4Rodríguez-Carballeira, scartín, Lisauta, Porr!a, 7Martín-Peña, 9:/:5, abuse o% t*e elderl$ 41al$ 7 Jogerst, 9::E5 or sc*ool bull$ing 4Cross,Pintabona, all, amilton, 7 rceg, 9::;5

)*e 1el'*i met*od 'er%ormed included t+o consecutive rounds using e-mail %or interaction bet+een t*e investigators and eac* e 'ert 'artici'ant Contact +it* t*e 'artici'ants +as al+a$sindividualized, and so t*e$ *ad no access to t*e identit$ o% t*e rest o% t*e 'artici'ants

Gn t*e %irst round, t*e 'anelists +ere 'rovided +it* a document containing t*e instructions to be%ollo+ed and a %irst 2uestionnaire, including t*e revie+ed ta onom$ )*e 'anelists +ere as<eddistribute /:: 'oints among eac* grou' o% com'onents o% t*e ta onom$ based on t*eir o'inions

about t*e relative severit$ or burden o% eac* abusive com'onent in t*e res'ective grou' )*e$distributed /:: 'oints among t*e main si categories and anot*er /:: 'oints among t*ecom'onents o% eac* set o% subcategories )*is 'rocedure, %ollo+ed b$ Rodríguez-Carballeira al 49:/:5 and Rodríguez-Carballeira et al 49:/;5, among ot*ers, +as c*osen to %acilitate t*ee 'erts3 decision ma<ing and to ensure t*e variabilit$ o% t*e scores

Gn t*e second round o% t*e stud$, a ne+ 2uestionnaire +as sent to t*e 'artici'ants t*at included%eedbac< %rom t*e grou' ans+ers given in t*e 'revious round )*e %ollo+ing data +ere added eac* com'onent o% t*e ta onom$H t*e e 'ert3s score in t*e %irst round, 'lus t*e mean, standardeviation, ma imum score, and minimum score o% t*e set o% ans+ers received ac* e 'ert +t*en as<ed to again score eac* categor$ in t*e ta onom$ based on severit$, considering t*e

%eedbac< 'rovided )*e 'artici'ants3 ans+ers in t*e second round, a%ter c*ec<ing t*at stabilit$*ad been reac*ed in t*e scores issued, +ere anal$zed to obtain t*e *ierarc*ical organization o%t*e "PA strategies

!ata Analysis

1ata +ere anal$zed using t*e SPSS /B : so%t+are Gn bot* rounds, t*e main descri'tive statist%or t*e scores given to eac* categor$ o% t*e ta onom$ +ere calculated Dor t*e 'ur'ose o%evaluating t*e stabilit$ o% t*e e 'ert 'anel3s 0udgment, %or eac* categor$H 4a5 >olmogorov-Smirnov tests +ere conducted to evaluate t*e normalit$ o% t*e distributions o% t*e scores issuein bot* rounds@ 4b5 S'earman correlations bet+een t*e t+o scores +ere calculated@ and 4c5 no 'arametric ?ilco on Z tests %or related sam'les +ere conducted to evaluate t*e 'ossibledi%%erence in ran<s bet+een t*e t+o scores

"esults

!efinition of Group Psychological Abuse



Drom t*e anal$sis o% t*e de%initions o% "PA ta<en %rom t*e revie+ed literature, t*ree basicelements emerged t*at made it 'ossible to c*aracterize t*e '*enomenonH 4a5 t*e abusive nature t*e strategies@ 4b5 t*e continued duration o% t*eir a''lication@ and 4c5 t*e ultimate goal o% tstrategies, namel$, t*e submission o% grou' members Combining t*ese t*ree elements, "PA ca be de%ined as a 'rocess o% s$stematic and continuous a''lication o% 'ressure, control,

mani'ulation, and coercion strategies %or t*e 'ur'ose o% dominating ot*er 'eo'le in order toac*ieve t*eir submission to t*e grou' )*is de%inition %ocuses on t*e abusive action itsel%,+it*out mentioning its 'ossible conse2uences %or 'eo'le a%%ected

Taxonomy of the Group Psychological Abuse Strategies

)*e result corres'onding to t*e second stud$ ob0ective +as t*e creation and validation o% a ne+ta onom$ com'rising K categories and 9K subcategories o% 's$c*ological abuse strategies t*atcan be used in grou's 4)able /5 Drom a 's$c*osocial vie+'oint, t*e si categories can beclassi%ied based on t*e %our dimensions to +*ic* t*e strategies can be directedH emotional,cognitive, be*avioral, and conte tual or situational )*e %irst t*ree dimensions relate to strateg

directl$ a%%ecting t*e 'erson, eit*er *isF*er emotions 4emotional abuse5, cognitions4indoctrination in an absolute and Manic*ean belie% s$stem5, or be*avior 4im'osing a single ae traordinar$ aut*orit$5 )*e last dimension relates to indirect strategies related to *o+ too'erate in t*e 'erson3s immediate environment 4isolation, control, and mani'ulation o%in%ormation, and control over 'ersonal li%e5





Severity of the Group Psychological Abuse Strategies

)*e result %or t*e t*ird stud$ ob0ective +as t*e *ierarc*ical organization o% t*e strategiesincluded in t*e ta onom$ based on t*eir severit$ according to t*e 0udgments o% t*e e 'ert gro)*e correlations bet+een t*e scores in t*e t+o rounds o% t*e 1el'*i stud$ +ere 'ositive,signi%icant, and *ig* %or all categories included in t*e ta onom$ 4ran<r s K: - 8E5, and none o% t*e ?ilco on Z tests 'er%ormed on eac* 'air o% scores $ielded a signi%icant di%%erence in ran4)able 95 )*ere%ore, t*e scores t*e 'artici'ants gave to eac* strateg$ in t*e second round o% t*stud$ did not c*ange mar<edl$ %rom t*e scores issued in t*e %irst round "iven t*is stabilit$, +as no need to 'er%orm a t*ird round, and t*e means %or t*e second scores +ere ta<en as relatiseverit$ indices o% t*e "PA strategies included in t*e ta onom$ 4)able 95



Digure / s*o+s t*e si main categories o% t*e ta onom$ organized *ierarc*icall$ on t*e basis o

t*eir mean scores )*e most severe strategies in t*e %irst categor$ 4emotional abuse5 +eremani'ulation o% blame 4 M /B .9,SD ; E85 and interested activation o% 'ositive %eelings 4 M /K B/,SD K 9K5 Gn t*e second categor$ 4isolation5, t*e most severe strategies +ere isolati%rom t*e %amil$ 4 M .: /, SD K ;95 and isolation %rom %riends and social su''ort net+or<4 M 9 KE,SD E K.5 Gn t*e t*ird categor$ 4control and mani'ulation o% t*e in%ormation5most severe strateg$ +as mani'ulation o% in%ormation 4 M EE KE,SD /: B5 Gn t*e %ourt*categor$ 4control over 'ersonal li%e5, t*e most severe strategies +ere control o% activities and



o% time 4 M 9: 98,SD B 985 and control o% sel%-e istence 4 M /B /.,SD B /:5 Gn t*e %i%t*categor$ 4indoctrination in an absolute and Manic*ean belie% s$stem5, t*e most severe strateg+ere negative reconstruction o% t*e 'ast and t*e 'revious identit$ 4 M 9/ B/,SD E E.5 andglori%ication o% t*e ingrou' and re0ection o% t*e outgrou' 4 M 9/ /K,SD E E5 Dinall$, in t*esi t* categor$ 4im'osition o% a single and e traordinar$ aut*orit$5, t*e most severe strateg$ +im'lantation o% t*e belie% in t*e s'ecial 2ualities o% t*e leader 4 M E9 /,SD /E .95

#igure $% ierarc*ical Organization o% t*e Main Categories o% t*e )a onom$ based on t*eirSeverit$

Returning to t*e 's$c*osocial 'ers'ective o% t*e dimensions mainl$ a%%ected b$ "PA strategiest*e e 'erts3 0udgments s*o+ed a greater burden o% t*e strategies directed to+ard emotions,%ollo+ed b$ t*ose aimed at t*e elements o% t*e 'erson3s immediate conte t or situation )*irdim'ortance +ere t*e strategies directed to+ard cognition and, %inall$, t*e strategies directedto+ard be*aviors

!iscussion

)*e elements included in t*e de%inition o% 's$c*ological abuse in grou' settings 'ro'osed in t*isstud$ 4duration, a''lication o% abusive strategies, and ac*ieving t*e individual3s submission5ma<e it 'ossible to distinguis* t*is 'rocess %rom ot*er %orms o% in%luence and aggression )recurrence and duration in time, <e$ elements o% 's$c*ological abuse 4Dollingstad, 9:: @6angone, /8895, distinguis* it %rom 's$c*ological aggression, +*ic* is de%ined as an occasionaction t*at *arms t*e a%%ected 'erson 4Ric*ardson 7 ammoc<, 9://5 1uration is necessar$ %t*e in%luence 'rocesses to be intensi%ied, graduall$ adding t*e abusive com'onents 4 assan,9:/.5 )*us, it seems necessar$ to add it to t*e t*ree %actors e 'laining grou' in%luence 4numbimmediac$, and strengt* o% t*e sources o% in%luence5 'ro'osed in t*e Social Gm'act )*eor$46atan , /8B/5 to e 'lain grou's3 ca'acit$ to in%luence t*eir members t*roug* intense andcontinued interaction

)*e abusive nature o% t*e strategies im'lemented, an element considered in most 'reviousde%initions 4e g , assan, 9:/.@ 6angone, /889@ Singer 7 6alic*, /88E5, ma<es "PA 2ualitatidi%%erent %rom ot*er %orms o% social in%luence 4&aron, 9:::5 ence, t*e combined strate 'ressure, control, mani'ulation, and coercion collected and de%ined in t*e ta onom$ 'resented*ere become muc* more intense t*an t*e tec*ni2ues usuall$ used to obtain com'liance,con%ormit$, or obedience in ot*er settings 4e g , Sundie, Cialdini, "ris<evicius, 7 >enric<,9:/95 )*e use o% "PA strategies is com'atible +it* t*e im'lementation o% social in%luence



strategies@ in %act, t*e$ are usuall$ concurrent and t*eir in%luence can even be en*anced b$ 's$c*ological abuse 'rocess itsel% 4&aron, 9:::5

)*e submission o% t*e 'erson as a 'rimar$ goal o% "PA also distinguis*es it %rom sim'le 's$c*ological aggression and ot*er %orms o% in%luence Gts ultimate goal is not to cause dam

or sim'l$ obtain con%ormit$ +it* t*e grou' rules, acce'tance o% direct re2uests, or obedience tos'eci%ic orders@ instead it is used as an instrument to obtain broad dominance over t*e lives o%grou' members 4Singer 7 6alic*, /88E5 Durt*ermore, t*is ob0ective o% submission ma<es "Psimilar to t*e abuse in%licted in intimate 'artner violence, and distinguis*es it %rom t*e abusea''lied in ot*er settings, suc* as bull$ing at sc*ool or in t*e +or<'lace, +*ere t*e main 'ur'oseis t*e e clusion o% t*e 'erson 4Rodríguez-Carballeira et al , 9:/.5

)*e de%ining elements 'ro'osed %or "PA do not include its 'ossible adverse conse2uences %ort*e a%%ected 'eo'le, +*ic* are set out in 'revious de%initions 4e g , assan, 9:/.@ 6angone,/8895 )*us, t*e 'ro'osal em'*asizes t*at t*e essential c*aracteristic o% 's$c*ological abuse ist*e abusive action 'er%ormed b$ t*e 'er'etrator, understanding t*at t*e e%%ects on t*e victim ar

conse2uence o% t*is action )*e negative e%%ects can be o% a di%%erent nature or seriousnet*e o'inion o% some aut*ors, even non-e istent 4(abloc<i 7 Robbins, 9::/5

On the Taxonomy and Severity of the Group Psychological Abuse Strategies

)*e content o% t*e "PA strategies ta onom$ *as been validated using a broad sam'le o% e 'ertsand em'lo$ing a novel 'rocedure in t*is %ield o% stud$ )*is ta onom$ is c*aracterized b$com're*ensivel$ gat*ering bot* e 'licit and subtle strategies, including most o% t*e abusive be*aviors considered in 'revious classi%ications 4e g , Andersen, /8BE@ assan, 9:/.@ Singe6alic*, /88E5 Gt is also c*aracterized b$ o'erationall$ de%ining eac* mutuall$-e clusive strat

&ot* t*e names and de%initions o% t*e strategies are %ocused on t*e abusive action itsel%,e cluding its 'ossible e%%ects, +*ic* +ere o%ten included in 'revious classi%ications b$ ot*eraut*ors 4e g , reduction o% sel%N according to ?est 7 Singer, /8B:5 Abusive be*aviors andconse2uences %or 'eo'le3s *ealt* and +ell-being must be evaluated at t*e same time, in order tosubse2uentl$ relate t*em t*roug* accurate studies 4Arono%% et al , 9:::5 An initial contributin t*is line is t*e *ierarc*ical organization o% t*e 's$c*ological abuse strategies b$ severit$, based on e 'ert o'inions Duture researc* s*ould anal$ze t*e correlations bet+een t*e severit$ t*e abuse and t*e seriousness o% its conse2uences, as *as been studied in ot*er similar %ields

)*e ta onom$ is structured using a 's$c*osocial a''roac* in %our dimensions, based on t*e 'ersonal or situational area to +*ic* t*e abusive action is directed )*ese dimensions are

classi%ied in t*e %ollo+ing order according to t*eir severit$H emotional, immediate conte t osituation, cognitive, and be*avioral )*e dimension o% emotional abuse includes, among ot*erstrategies 'reviousl$ labeled as coercion 4Andersen, /8BE5 or emotional control tec*ni2ues4 assan, 9:/.@ Rodríguez-Carballeira, /8895 )*is dimension +as considered to *ave t*egreatest severit$ in t*e o'inion o% t*e e 'erts )*e same result +as obtained +*en evaluating t*eseverit$ o% abusive strategies used in 'artner violence 4Rodríguez-Carballeira et al , 9:/;5 and bull$ing in t*e +or<'lace 4Rodríguez-Carballeira et al , 9:/:5



)*e dimension o% t*e conte t or situation includes indirect strategies aimed at intervening in t* 'erson3s immediate setting, including isolation, control and mani'ulation o% in%ormation, andcontrol over 'ersonal li%e )*is dimension +as considered t*e most severe a%ter emotional abuGts im'ortance *as been related to e tensivel$ studied strategies, suc* as isolation %rom e ternsources o% social su''ort 4Andersen, /8BE5, dece'tion 4e g , Andersen, /8BE@ 6angone, /8B9

t*e continuous su'ervision o% be*avior 4 assan, 9:/.5)*e cognitive dimension, indoctrination in an absolute and Manic*ean belie% s$stem, received lo+er severit$ score %rom t*e e 'erts, even t*oug* it +as de%ended as a central com'onent o%"PA Gn t*is regard, some aut*ors use intense indoctrination to re%er to t*e +*ole 'rocess o%undue in%luence, control, coercion, and abuse in grou' settings 4e g , &aron, 9:::5

)*e be*avioral dimension, im'osition o% a single and e traordinar$ aut*orit$, received t*e lo+eseverit$ score, 'robabl$ because it is a some+*at transversal action t*at is usuall$ associated+it*, rein%orced b$, or ac*ieved t*roug* ot*er %orms o% abuse )*is +ould e 'lain +*$ it *as*ardl$ been mentioned in 'revious classi%ications, alt*oug* some aut*ors did include it as

assuring t*e e istence o% a single true aut*orit$N 4Andersen, /8BE5 or re2uiring unconditisurrender to t*e leaderN 4?est, /88:5

&mplications

"PA is a '*enomenon +it* great *uman, social, and scienti%ic relevance )*ere%ore, t*edelimitation o% abusive be*aviors 'rovides a critical integrating %rame+or< %or researc* and guide %or interventions in t*e a''lied %ield )*is %rame+or< *el's to distinguis* abusive be*aviors %rom legitimate grou' d$namics, as t*e$ *ave sometimes been con%used 4e g , 1a9:: 5

Gn t*e clinical setting, t*e ta onom$ can be ta<en as a use%ul tool to evaluate t*e 'resence orabsence o% 's$c*ological abuse in t*e clinical assessment stage and guide t*e di%%erent ste's it*e subse2uent intervention +*ere t*e abuse e 'eriences are re-e amined 4Coates, 9:/:@Matt*e+s 7 Salazar, 9:/;5 Durt*ermore, +it*in t*e sco'e o% 'revention, it mig*t be use%ul %ordesigning interventions t*at, t*roug* <no+ledge about abusive strategies, can increase resistancto t*eir in%luence and reduce 'ersonal susce'tibilit$ 4Andersen 7 (imbardo, /8B;5

Gn t*e legal setting, 'recise conce'ts are usuall$ lac<ing t*at deal +it* t*e limits bet+eenlegitimate in%luence and 's$c*ological abuse 'rocesses 4Ordeñana, 9::/5 )*e ta onom$ 'rovided can contribute to delimiting t*e grou' 'ractices t*at can be considered 's$c*ologicalabuse, in order to ta<e t*em into account in legal claims or in advancing t*e criminal la+

regulating t*is '*enomenon Gn t*is regard, t*e ta onom$ could be used b$ %orensic e 'erts toassess t*e 'er'etrated abuses and t*e e 'erienced in0ur$, tr$ing to establis* t*eir casualrelations*i' t*roug* %orensic-clinical intervie+s 4Lilariño, Arce, 7 Dariña, 9:/.5

'imitations

)*e stud$ limitations include t*e non-'robabilistic sam'ling met*od used to select t*e e 'ert 'anel t*at validated t*e ta onom$ and *ierarc*icall$ organized its com'onents )*ere%ore, a



'er%ect re'resentation o% all t*e 'ro%essional and academician e 'erts on t*is sub0ect is note 'ected Gn an$ case, all 'ro%essionals +it* e 'erience in t*e area %rom +*om enoug*in%ormation +as available +ere contacted ven +it* t*is limitation, t*is investigation ma<es anovel contribution, bot* due to t*e accurac$ in t*e met*od used and to t*e number o% 'artici'ating e 'erts, +*ic* are im'ortant +*en tr$ing to validate t*e 's$c*ological abuse

com'onents in an area +*ere ver$ %e+ em'irical studies are available 4Almendros et al , 9://5#uture "esearch

Duture investigations must continue to stud$ t*e '*enomenon o% 's$c*ological abuse occurringin grou' settings in order to ma<e im'rovements in its de%inition, assessment, and generalunderstanding Dor a measurement instrument to *ave su%%icient 's$c*ometric guarantees, acom'lete, accurate de%inition o% t*e evaluated construct must be used 4Carretero-1ios 7 P rez9:: 5 Gn t*is res'ect, t*e ta onom$ 'rovided +ill allo+ researc*ers to develo' instruments t*atcan com're*ensivel$ evaluate "PA ?it* t*ese instruments, it +ill be easier to stud$ t*erelations*i' bet+een t*e abuse strategies e 'erienced and t*eir 'ossible conse2uences %or

'eo'le, t*us obtaining more 'recise in%ormation about t*e relative severit$ o% t*e di%%erentcom'onents o% "PA

Conflict of &nterest

)*e aut*ors o% t*is article declare no con%lict o% interest

#inancial Support

)*is researc* +as su''orted b$ grants %rom t*e Ministr$ o% Science and Gnnovation 4S'ain54PSG9:/:-/K:8B 7 PSG9:/.-;/BKE-P5

Manuscri't receivedH .:F:EF9:/;Revision receivedH :.F/:F9:/;Acce'tedH /;F//F9:/;

*tt'HFFd doi orgF/: /:/KF0 e0'al 9:/; // ::/

QCorres'ondence concerning t*is article s*ould be addressed to Álvaro Rodríguez-Carballeira1e'artamento de Psicología Social Dacultad de Psicología#niversidad de &arcelona Pg Lall d3 ebron / /:B:.E &arcelona, S'ain

-mailHalvaro rodriguez ub edu

"eferences

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpal.2014.11.001

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpal.2014.11.001



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Group psychological abuse: Taxonomy and severity of its components