A psychologist discusses the stages of abusive relationships, highlighting the abuser's profile, which includes low self-esteem, control issues, and narcissism. The initial idealization stage is followed by devaluation, where the abuser criticizes and undermines the victim's self-esteem and identity. This leads to isolation from friends and family, making the victim dependent on the abuser. The final stage is discarding when the abuser no longer finds the relationship beneficial. The psychologist advises victims to seek therapy to regain strength and identity, emphasizing that recovery is a process of rediscovering oneself and that the fault lies with the abuser, not the victim.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Abusers often have low self-esteem despite trying to show the opposite.
2. Abusers are often highly attuned to their partner's needs and desires.
3. Abusers may have been through neglect or abuse in the past and are reproducing this behavior.
4. Abusers often have a narcissistic profile, where they believe they are the center of the universe.
5. In the idealization phase of an abusive relationship, the abuser puts their partner on a pedestal and tries to please them.
6. The abuser may make grand gestures and promises to their partner.
7. The abuser may start to criticize their partner, often subtly at first.
8. The abuser may try to mold their partner into someone they think is perfect.
9. The abuser may become controlling and try to dictate what their partner wears and does.
10. The abuser may become increasingly critical and undermine their partner's self-esteem.
11. The abuser may start to isolate their partner from friends and family.
12. The abuser may become emotionally and physically abusive.
13. The cycle of abuse can be addictive for the victim.
14. The abuser may discard their partner once they have achieved their goals.
15. The victim may experience a range of emotions, including guilt, shame, and low self-esteem.
16. Seeking therapy is an important step in recovering from an abusive relationship.
17. It can take time to recover from an abusive relationship, but it is possible with the right support.