PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF DESTRUCTIVE COPING BEHAVIOR OF WOMEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Authors:   ‘UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT’ of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Popovych Yaroslava 
Published: April 2024

The article raises the topic of the formation of destructive coping behavior in women affected by domestic violence, highlights the reasons and consequences of such a choice. The modern world has different sides of manifestation, they can be both positive and negative. What we can mark as a value, what we are proud of and keep, does not raise questions or objections. The opposite of value is something humanity is trying to eradicate or change, which is an unpleasant part of our history. One such aspect is domestic violence. Unfortunately, the scale of this problem is quite large, it has no age limits, but it has a gender difference. The problem of the modern world, as it was hundreds of years ago, is the issue of overcoming domestic violence, which is still widespread in many countries of the world. And this is no exception in Ukraine. The vast majority of cases of domestic violence are recorded against women. Because it occurs in different layers of our society and therefore affects many aspects of life, it needs attention, especially for women who overcome difficulties and form behaviors that help them return to a full, healthy life. The mechanisms of creating opportunities and stimulating changes in victimized women are quite complex, as they affect not only the basic components of personality formation – resilience, self-respect and sufficient self-esteem, but also the external and internal levers of the entire society, modern forms of education of the young generation and the transformation of the country's culture as a whole. Domestic violence is one of the types of difficult life circumstances caused by the victim's need to overcome them. It is the coping behavior of victims under the category of destructiveness that deserves considerable attention. Often under the influence of certain factors determined by the specifics of upbringing (conditions of loyalty to facts of domestic violence), religious aspects (norms of humiliation, gender inequality), cultural characteristics of the family or the victim behavior of the woman herself, a non-constructive reaction to cases of violence is formed. The use of various options for psychological defense (avoidance, displacement, rejection, denial, etc.) will be clear signs of destructive coping. Clearly aware of the reasons for such a negative choice, which is often not an easy choice, but a complex system of formed survival skills, it is worth paying attention to the reverse path – the formation of new coping mechanisms, which requires significant efforts from the affected woman. In order to effectively overcome the consequences of difficult circumstances, it is vital for victims to find and master constructive coping strategies in order to have a healthy and fulfilling life in the future. This requires not only time, but also physical capabilities, psychological conditions, internal personal coherence and social assistance. It is with such a comprehensive approach that one can count on the effectiveness of the created and applied forms and methods of struggle.