PECULIARITIES OF PSYCHOLOGIST'S WORK WITH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Abstract

The article deals with the theoretical aspects of psychologist's work with victims of domestic violence. The authors of the article define the concepts of ‘violence’ and ‘domestic violence’. They describe domestic violence, its causes and main stages of development.

The authors of the article argue that when working with victims of domestic violence, psychologists should take into account the victimological principles of psychological assistance: non-judgemental attitude towards the victim; compliance of forms and methods of psychological assistance with the peculiarities of victimisation; involvement of forms of assistance from other specialists depending on the source and peculiarities of victimization.

The article presents the psychological characteristics of women who have suffered from domestic violence, their coping strategies and other personality traits. In accordance with these features, the techniques that a psychologist should use when providing assistance to women who have suffered from domestic violence are defined.

The authors of the article describe changes in the behaviour of a child victim of domestic violence. The article provides a detailed description of interviewing a child who has suffered or witnessed domestic violence.

The authors of the article have found that the work of a psychologist with victims of domestic violence requires the development of appropriate personal and professionally significant qualities, the combination of which at the psychophysiological, intellectual and personal levels will significantly improve the quality of the specialist's services.

The authors of the article see the prospects for further work in the development of social and psychological training for the development of personal and professional qualities of future psychologists to work with victims of domestic violence.