The interactions between the aggressor and his victims are the subject of study in a special branch of psychology - victimology (from the Latin victim - “victim”).
Psychologists specializing in this area note in victims of domestic violence mental and physiological stress, a growing feeling of fear, despair and helplessness, profound personality changes, and suicidal intentions. Specialists have developed some recommendations for providing both first (urgent) assistance to victims, and subsequent, aimed at getting out of the current situation.
The victim of domestic violence must first of all speak out, tell the person who has earned her trust about his family environment. If you managed to motivate her to do this in any way, you can already talk about some achievement - after all, usually they do not spread about domestic violence, feeling shame, guilt, fear that the conversation will become known to the aggressor. The interlocutor should not "put pressure" on the victim, demand to tell everything at once. Having become convinced of the reliability of the counselor, the victim herself will reveal more and more examples of violence and her experiences to him.
In no case should you try to talk to the rapist: he will only take it as the fact that the person dependent on him has complained to someone. It is also unacceptable to blame the victim for defenselessness and inability to fight back. Tactful empathy will help the victim perceive their situation as abnormal and encourage them to look for ways to change it.
