When People Refuse to Face the Consequences: The Psychology of Avoidance, Accountability and Emotional Courage

There is something deeply revealing about the way a person behaves when life becomes uncomfortable. Some people face difficult situations head-on. They attend the difficult conversation, answer the questions, acknowledge what has happened and accept that their actions have consequences. Others disappear. They avoid the conversation. They don’t attend the meeting. They refuse to engage… Read More When People Refuse to Face the Consequences: The Psychology of Avoidance, Accountability and Emotional Courage

Hollywood’s Latest Obsession: Older Women and Younger Men

Age-gap relationships are becoming more common off-screen, too For decades, Hollywood had a very clear idea of what an age-gap relationship was supposed to look like. The man was older. The woman was younger. And nobody seemed particularly surprised. Older male actors could continue playing romantic leads well into their 60s, 70s and beyond, often… Read More Hollywood’s Latest Obsession: Older Women and Younger Men

What can happen in the abuser’s brain during abusive behaviour?

From a neuroscience perspective, abuse involves changes in the brain and nervous system of both the person being abused and, potentially, the person carrying out the abuse—but we have to be careful not to suggest that there is a single “abuser brain.” People become abusive through complex interactions among learning, personality, emotion regulation, beliefs, environment and… Read More What can happen in the abuser’s brain during abusive behaviour?

How an Abuser Can Make You Feel Like Nothing

One of the most difficult things to explain about abuse is how quickly it can change a person’s sense of themselves. It can happen in minutes. A person who was confident, capable and independent can suddenly find themselves frightened, confused, humiliated and desperately trying to make sense of what is happening. It isn’t because they… Read More How an Abuser Can Make You Feel Like Nothing

Different types of abuse

Different types of abuse Hitting, kicking, punching or slapping Pushing, shaking or throwing someone Choking or strangulation Burning or causing injuries Using objects or weapons to hurt or threaten someone Preventing someone from leaving or physically restraining them Constant criticism, humiliation or insults Belittling someone or making them feel worthless Deliberately causing fear or distress… Read More Different types of abuse

Research-based typologies of people who sexually abuse children

The central finding is that child sexual offenders are a heterogeneous population. There is no single psychological or personality profile that identifies a child sexual abuser. A major review of the literature specifically concludes that existing typologies have useful descriptive value but also significant methodological limitations.  1. Groth’s typology — early motivational model Groth’s work was… Read More Research-based typologies of people who sexually abuse children