Qualitative study of relational patterns in women victims of repeated violence based on core conflictual relationship theme (CCRT)

Repeat victims are referred to as people who have been victims of domestic violence frequently without leaving the abusive relationship. Although these traits may affect their communication, research has not specifically examined the relational patterns of this group of people. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relational patterns through core conflictual relationship themes in order to track the possible impact of the past. To this end, the basic qualitative method was used. The population of the present study included women victims of repeated violence in Tehran in 1400 and the sampling of it was saturated and completed after conducting a semi-structured interview with the eighth person. The findings demonstrate that repeat victims had shaped most of their relationships only based on the need to be loved, their aspirations were not diverse. In addition, all our participants had experienced relational traumas which transmitted from their family of origin to their current relationships. Trauma was generally transmitted, but it had different characteristics concerning different individuals. For example, the parent and spouse relational patterns were quite similar, but the relationships with friends were different. For the individual, the need for self-expression and independence was only present in relationships with the latter group; hence, it can be said that our participants tried to experience what was deprived of them in the relationships with the former group. What caused the relationship with friends to differ to a degree from their stereotypical relationships was that the person felt mastery and parity in the relationship. Therefore, if the recurrent violence or the stereotypical relationships of repeat victims is to be stopped or broken, experiencing mastery and agency is a necessity.