Η βία έχει πολλές μορφές.

Αναγνώρισε τα σημάδια της βίας σε μια σχέση
Κάθε επιζώσα μπορεί να ξεφύγει από μια κακοποιητική σχέση. Σε αυτή τη διαδρομή δεν είναι μόνη.


Η ενδοοικογενειακή βία αποτελεί μια από τις πιο διαδεδομένες μορφές έμφυλης βίας, παγκοσμίως. Σύμφωνα με το Συμβούλιο της Ευρώπης μία στις τέσσερις Ευρωπαίες βιώνει ή θα βιώσει ενδοοικογενειακή βία κάποια στιγμή στη ζωή της, ενώ κάθε χρόνο 6% έως 10% των γυναικών υφίστανται ενδοοικογενειακή βία. Μπορεί να συμβεί σε όλες, στο γάμο, τη σχέση, τη συμβίωση, από τον νυν, πρώην ή τέως σύζυγο/σύντροφο.
Επαναλαμβανόμενο μοτίβο

Η ενδοοικογενειακή βία περιλαμβάνει ένα επαναλαμβανόμενο μοτίβο παραβιαστικών συμπεριφορών που ασκεί ο δράστης, με στόχο να διατηρήσει την εξουσία και τον (κοινωνικό) έλεγχο πάνω στο θύμα του, είτε είναι γυναίκα ή παιδί.

Με τις συνεχείς λεκτικές και σωματικές τιμωρίες, τις απειλές, τον εξαναγκασμό, ο κακοποιητής έχει ως σκοπό να εκφοβίσει, να τρομάξει, να ταπεινώσει το θύμα, να του «σπάει» το ηθικό και να το κάνει να νιώσει ανίκανο να προβάλει αντίσταση, να δει καθαρά την κατάσταση.

Πέρα από τη σωματική κακοποίηση (χαστούκια, σπρώξιμο, τράβηγμα από τα μαλλιά, κ.ά.) που απειλεί τη σωματική ακεραιότητα του θύματος, η ενδοοικογενειακή βία παίρνει διάφορες μορφές: λεκτική, ψυχολογική, σωματική, σεξουαλική κακοποίηση και οικονομική βία – που δεν αφήνουν ορατά σημάδια αλλά τραυματίζουν εξίσου.
Ψυχολογική βία

Πρόκειται για συστηματική, επίπονη και διαβρωτική διαδικασία που οδηγεί την επιζώσα σε διανοητική και συναισθηματική οδύνη ή βλάβη. Ως ψυχολογική και συναισθηματική κακοποίηση αναφέρεται ένα σύνολο ενεργειών: πρώτον ο εκφοβισμός και οι απειλές για σωματική ή σεξουαλική βία. Συχνότατα ο θύτης απειλεί ότι θα βλάψει το θύμα ή την οικογένειά του, ότι θα πάρει την κηδεμονία των παιδιών ή ότι θα αυτοκτονήσει.

Δεύτερον, η συστηματική ταπείνωση και διαρκής κριτική, η δημιουργία ενοχών στη σύντροφο, και ο αδιάκοπος έλεγχο της προσωπικής της ζωής. Τρίτον, η προσπάθεια απομόνωσης του θύματος, από τον οικογενειακό/φιλικό/συγγενικό περίγυρο.

Τα παραπάνω στοχεύουν στη μείωση της αυτοπεποίθησης, την υπονόμευση της αυτοεκτίμησης του θύματος, σε σημείο που το ίδιο να αμφιβάλλει για την ψυχική του διαύγεια και να πιστεύει ότι είναι υπεύθυνο και ένοχο για την κακοποίηση που δέχεται.
Λεκτική βία

Η λεκτική βία είναι άμεσα συνδεδεμένη με την ψυχολογική κακοποίηση. Εμπεριέχει ένα ευρύ φάσμα συμπεριφορών που ξεκινούν από φωνές, απειλές και εξυβρίσεις και φτάνουν ως το λεκτικό εξευτελισμό και την τρομοκράτηση.

Στόχος της λεκτικής κακοποίησης είναι η χειραγώγηση διαμέσου του φόβου και ο έλεγχος πάνω στη ζωή του ατόμου. Οι προσβολές, οι κατηγορίες, οι μομφές, η δυσφήμηση, η επίρριψη ευθυνών για την κακοποιητική συμπεριφορά στο θύμα, οι συνεχείς επικρίσεις, η λεκτική υποβάθμιση και υπονόμευση της αυτοπεποίθησης, αποτελούν μερικά μόνο πρόσωπα αυτού του πολύπλοκου φαινομένου.

Αν και είναι η πιο συνηθισμένη μορφή ενδοοικογενειακής βίας, είναι αρκετά κανονικοποιημένη είτε γιατί δεν υπάρχουν ορατές αποδείξεις ή γιατί ο θύτης μπορεί να παραπλανά, διατηρώντας άψογη συμπεριφορά στο δημόσιο χώρο.
Οικονομική βία

Η οικονομική βία είναι η στέρηση πόρων, ευκαιριών, αγαθών και υπηρεσιών. Συνήθως, η οικονομική βία εντός της σχέσης αποσκοπεί στον έλεγχο της συντρόφου προκειμένου να αισθανθεί ανίσχυρη και αδύναμη να εγκαταλείψει τον κακοποιητικό δεσμό.

Η οικονομική βία ασκείται με πολλούς τρόπους: Πρώτον, τη στέρηση του δικαιώματος για οικονομική αυτονομία. Χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα αποτελεί η απαγόρευση ή παρεμπόδιση του δικαιώματος στην εργασία.

Δεύτερον, τον έλεγχο των περιουσιακών στοιχείων και του εισοδήματος του θύματος. Ο θύτης μπορεί να αποσπά τον μισθό της συντρόφου του ή να αρνείται την κατά βούληση αξιοποίησή του, να την αποκλείει από χρηματοπιστωτικούς πόρους (π.χ. παρακράτηση τραπεζικής κάρτας), να την εξαναγκάζει να πάρει δάνειο στο όνομά της, να μην της επιτρέπει την πρόσβαση στο οικογενειακό εισόδημα ή να αποφασίζει για κοινούς πόρους χωρίς την ενημέρωση της.

Τέλος περιλαμβάνει την αποστέρηση του θύματος από αναγκαία εισοδήματα για την κάλυψη των βασικών του αναγκών.
Σεξουαλική βία

Αφορά οποιαδήποτε σεξουαλική πράξη, αλλά και απόπειρα τέτοιας πράξης, χωρίς την εκούσια και ελεύθερη συναίνεση του θύματος. Κατά την άσκησή της, συχνά (αλλά όχι πάντα) χρησιμοποιείται σωματική βία, εξαναγκασμός, αλλά και απειλές βίας.
Ο κύκλος της βίας

Πολύ συχνά οι γυναίκες που έχουν κακοποιηθεί αναφέρουν πως νιώθουν εγκλωβισμένες σε ένα κλοιό που σφίγγει, σε ένα φαύλο κύκλο από τον οποίο δεν μπορούν να ξεφύγουν. Αυτή η αίσθηση δημιουργείται όταν το θύμα βρίσκεται αντιμέτωπο με τον αποκαλούμενο «κύκλο της βίας».

Ο «κύκλος της βίας», που έχει τρεις φάσεις, μπαίνει σε λειτουργία σε όλες τις κακοποιητικές σχέσεις, οδηγώντας την επιζώσα σε παράλυση, παραίτηση και εν τέλει θυματοποίηση, κάτι που είναι και ο στόχος του κακοποιητή, προκειμένου να εξασφαλίσει την κάμψη της αντίστασής της.
Πρώτη φάση: δημιουργία της έντασης

Το pattern είναι σταθερό, αποτελούμενο από τρεις διακριτές φάσεις, που ποικίλουν σε χρόνο και σε ένταση. Πρώτη είναι η φάση της «δημιουργίας της έντασης». Εδώ κάνουν την εμφάνιση τους τα πρώτα σημάδια κακοποιητικών συμπεριφορών. Το άγχος στη σχέση αρχίζει να κλιμακώνεται.

Ο κακοποιητής σύζυγος/σύντροφος παρουσιάζει απροσδόκητα ξεσπάσματα θυμού, για ασήμαντες αφορμές (π.χ. γιατί δεν είναι έτοιμο το φαγητό στην ώρα του ή γιατί τον ξύπνησε το κλάμα του μωρού). Η γυναίκα πιστεύει ότι μπορεί να τον κατευνάσει αν είναι υποχωρητική και περιποιητική ή κρατώντας αποστάσεις.

Η ίδια πνίγει το θυμό της. Σταδιακά, η κατάσταση αρχίζει να ξεφεύγει από τον έλεγχο, με τον κακοποιητή να αυξάνει σταθερά την ψυχολογική πίεση. Η φάση αυτή μπορεί να κρατήσει μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα.
Δεύτερη φάση: η «έκρηξη»

Μένος, μανία, βαναυσότητα, έλλειψη ελέγχου, σοβαρά επεισόδια κακοποίησης, σωματικές βλάβες – πρόκειται για τη «φάση της έκρηξης». Εδώ η επιζώσα κατανοεί ότι είναι αδύνατο να συζητήσει λογικά και υπεύθυνα με το θύτη. Πιστεύει ότι κάθε προβαλλόμενη αντίσταση θα χειροτερέψει την κατάσταση.

Πρόκειται για την πιο τρομακτική στιγμή στον «κύκλο της βίας», που μπορεί να οδηγήσει σε σοβαρόρτατες σωματικές βλάβες, ακόμα και σε γυναικοκτονία.

Παράλληλα είναι και η πιο σύντομη φάση, καθώς διαρκεί, συνήθως, από δυο (2) έως είκοσι τέσσερις (24) ώρες.

Πολλές γυναίκες τότε εγκαταλείπουν τον κακοποιητή. Άλλες πάλι, αδυνατώντας να φύγουν για διάφορους λόγους, αποστασιοποιούνται από την επίθεση και τον τρομερό πόνο που επιφέρει.
Τρίτη φάση: η «συμφιλίωση»

Μετά το ξέσπασμα ακολουθεί η «περίοδος της συμφιλίωσης». Η ένταση και η βία υποχωρούν. Το ζευγάρι αισθάνεται ανακούφιση και αποσιωπά το βίαιο επεισόδιο ή βρίσκει τρόπους να το δικαιολογήσει.

Ο θύτης μεταμορφώνεται σ’ «άγγελο», δείχνει μεταμέλεια, απολογείται, ζητάει συγγνώμη, προσφέρει δώρα και υπόσχεται να μην το ξανακάνει. Σε καμία περίπτωση όμως δεν αναλαμβάνει την ευθύνη για τις πράξεις του. Αντίθετα επιμένει ότι η συμπεριφορά του θύματος τον εξώθησε στη βία.

Η κακοποιημένη γυναίκα στη διάρκεια της τρίτης φάσης, επιθυμώντας να διατηρήσει την ήρεμη ατμόσφαιρα, πείθει τον εαυτό της ότι ο σύντροφός/σύζυγος δεν θα το ξανακάνει και θα αλλάξει. Αυτή ακριβώς είναι η πιο κρίσιμη φάση για τον εγκλωβισμό και τη θυματοποίηση της.

Σύντομα ο κύκλος θα επαναληφθεί…
Μαθαίνοντας να κατηγορείς εσένα

Η ενδοοικογενειακή βία έχει σημαντικότατες επιπτώσεις στην ψυχική υγεία των γυναικών (άγχος, κατάθλιψη, σκέψεις αυτοκτονίας, μετατραυματικό στρες, ψυχοσωματικά συμπτώματα κ.ά.). Το συναισθηματικό προφίλ που αναπτύσσουν (χαμηλή αυτοεκτίμηση, αισθήματα αναξιότητας, αίσθηση ότι δεν αξίζει να αγαπηθούν), σε συνδυασμό με τις εναλλασσόμενες αντιδράσεις του κακοποιητή, τις εγκλωβίζει στο «κύκλο της βίας».

Μάλιστα, σταδιακά, η επιζώσα χρόνιας ενδοοικογενειακής βίας βλέπει τον εαυτό της με το βλέμμα του δράστη. «Μαθαίνει» να κατηγορεί τον εαυτό της. Ο κακοποιητής, αργά και μεθοδικά, της «εμφυτεύει» την ιδέα ότι είναι συνυπεύθυνη, ώστε να παραιτηθεί από κάθε σενάριο διαφυγής.

Πολλές φορές, οι κακοποιημένες γυναίκες χρησιμοποιούν ακόμη και τα λόγια ή τα επιχειρήματα των ίδιων των δραστών: «Είμαι σαν τη μάνα μου, όπως και εκείνη τσάντιζε τον πατέρα μου και τις έτρωγε, έτσι κι εγώ», «Όλα τα κάνω λάθος, κάτι πάει στραβά με εμένα», «Ναι αλλά και εγώ τον προκάλεσα».

Εσωτερικεύοντας μια ευθύνη, που σε καμία περίπτωση δεν τους αναλογεί, οι γυναίκες που κακοποιούνται κυριαρχούνται από αισθήματα ενοχής και ντροπής, τα οποία δημιουργούν σημαντικά εμπόδια στην αποκάλυψη και καταγγελία της βίας.
Η «μαθημένη αβοηθησία»

Οι επαναλαμβανόμενες οδυνηρές εμπειρίες κακοποίησης και το τραυματικό είδος του δεσμού με το θύτη –που ενδυναμώνεται σε περιόδους μεταξύ των περιστατικών, όταν ο θύτης είναι ήρεμος, στοργικός και απολογητικός– οδηγεί τις επιζώσες σε παραλυσία, αίσθηση ανεπάρκειας και ανικανότητας υποστήριξης του εαυτού.

Σε αυτή την κατάσταση της λεγόμενης «μαθημένης αβοηθησίας», τα θύματα έχουν την εντύπωση ότι δεν ασκούν κανένα έλεγχο στη ζωή τους, οπότε σταδιακά εγκαταλείπουν την ιδέα της ανεξαρτητοποίησης μέσω της φυγής.

Μάλιστα, η φυγή λαμβάνει, τρομακτικές διαστάσεις εξαιτίας του φόβου: Φόβος διαρκής μέσα στη σχέση, για το τι θα συμβεί την επόμενη στιγμή. Φόβος ότι ο δράστης θα κάνει κακό σε εκείνη και τα παιδιά, άμα φύγουν. Φόβος ότι δεν θα γίνει πιστευτή. Φόβος κοινωνικού στιγματισμού.

Τέλος, και η οικονομική βία και εξάρτηση από τον κακοποιητή συνιστά σημαντικό ανασταλτικό παράγοντα. Ειδικά σε περιπτώσεις που γυναίκες δεν εργάζονται, νιώθουν εξαιρετικά αδύναμες να φύγουν, καθώς πιστεύουν ότι δεν θα μπορέσουν να ανταπεξέλθουν στις ανάγκες της καθημερινότητας, κυρίως δε όταν έχουν παιδιά.
Φτιάξε ένα πλάνο φυγής

Αν θες να ξεφύγεις από μια κακοποιητική σχέση είναι αναγκαίο να μεθοδεύσεις τη φυγή σου. Επειδή κατά το χωρισμό ο δράστης βλέπει πως χάνει τον απόλυτο έλεγχο στη ζωή της συντρόφου/συζύγου του, εξαγριώνεται και προσπαθεί με κάθε μέσο να αποτρέψει τη φυγή. Το δεδομένο αυτό κάνει αναγκαία τη λήψη μέτρων προστασίας, την κατάρτιση ενός «Σχεδίου Ασφαλείας» από μεριά της επιζώσας.

Παρακάτω, μπορείς να βρεις κάποια ενδεικτικά βήματα που είναι χρήσιμο να έχεις κατά νου αν θες να ξεφύγεις από μια βίαιη σχέση. Φυσικά το κάθε πλάνο απόδρασης δεν μπορεί παρά να είναι εξατομικευμένο, προσαρμοσμένο στις ανάγκες της κάθε γυναίκας, αφού μόνο εκείνη γνωρίζει τι είναι καλύτερο και ασφαλές για την ίδια και τα παιδιά της.

Γραμμή SOS 15900

ΠΗΓΗ:

https://diotima.org.gr/anagnorise-ta-simadia-tis-vias-se-mia-schesi/(accessed 6.9.26)

Help after rape and sexual assault

If you've been sexually assaulted it's important to remember that it was not your fault. Sexual violence is a crime, no matter who commits it or where it happens. Don't be afraid to get help.

There are services that can help if you've been sexually assaulted, raped or abused. You don't have to report the assault to the police if you don't want to. You may need time to think about what has happened to you.

But you should get medical help for any injuries and because you may be at risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you want the crime to be investigated, it's best to have a forensic medical examination as soon as possible.

Try not to wash or change your clothes immediately after a sexual assault. This may destroy forensic evidence that could be important if you decide to report the assault to the police (although you can still go to the police even if you have washed).
Where to get help

Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. SARCs have specially trained doctors, nurses and support workers to care for you.

You can get help from a SARC by booking an appointment with your nearest one.Find your nearest sexual assault referral centre (SARC)

Other places you can get help include:a doctor or practice nurse at your GP surgery
a voluntary organisation, such as Rape Crisis, Women's Aid, Victim Support, The Survivors Trust or Male Survivors Partnership
the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247
the rape and sexual abuse support line run by Rape Crisis England and Wales – you can call the helpline on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat (both are free and are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year)
a hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department
a genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic
a contraceptive clinic
a young people's service
call NHS 111 or get help from 111 online
the police, or dial 101
in an emergency, dial 999
About sexual assault referral centres (SARCs)

Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) are located across the country and available for everyone, regardless of gender, age, the type of incident, or when it happened.

SARCs offer a range of services, including crisis care, medical and forensic examinations and emergency contraception. They can also arrange access to an independent sexual assault advisor (ISVA), as well as referrals to mental health support and sexual violence support services.

If you are thinking about reporting an assault to the police, the centre can arrange for you to speak to a specially trained police officer who can explain the next steps.

If you decide to report the assault to the police, specially trained advisors can support you through the criminal justice system. They can also support you through the trial if the case goes to court.

Forensic medical examinations can be arranged, even if you have not decided if you want to report the assault.

It is not recommended to use a self-swab kit as this could affect the ability to get a DNA sample for evidence if you choose to report it to the police.
Having a medical examination at a SARC


It's your choice whether you’re examined or not. You can also choose to have some parts of the examination but not others.

Some people find the examination reassuring. It's a chance to check for injuries and infections and collect possible evidence.

SARCs have private rooms and specially trained doctors and nurses. You can ask for a male or female examiner and choose who is in the room with you.

A doctor or nurse will ask you health questions, for example about the assault or recent sexual activity. If you choose, they can collect swabs and other samples. They can also document any injuries that can be used as evidence.

They will explain what they've found and discuss with you your options. They will also offer you any treatment, such as emergency contraception or protection from certain STIs.

In most SARCs you can have a shower before you leave, if you want to.


NHS video about what happens at a SARC (YouTube)
What is sexual assault?

A sexual assault is any sexual act that a person did not consent to or is forced into against their will.

It's a form of sexual violence and includes rape (an assault involving penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth), or other sexual offences, such as groping, forced kissing, child sexual abuse, or the torture of a person in a sexual manner.

Sexual violence or assault can happen to anyone of any age.
Consent

Sexual assault is an act that is carried out without a person's active consent. This means they did not agree to it.

Consent means saying "yes" to what happened.

Being intoxicated, not being asked, saying nothing, feeling like you have to say yes, or having said yes in the past, is not consent. Being in a relationship or married to someone is not consent.

Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Sexual assault is a crime

It's not uncommon for someone who's been sexually assaulted to have no physical injuries or signs of the assault. But sexual assault is still a crime and can be reported to the police in the same way as other crimes.

Most sexual assaults are carried out by someone known to the person who's been assaulted. This could be a partner, former partner, relative, friend or colleague. The assault may happen in many places, but is usually in the home of the person who's been assaulted or the home of the perpetrator (the person carrying out the assault).
If your drink has been spiked

Spiking is when alcohol or drugs have been put in your drink without your permission.

If your drink has been spiked or you've been injected with an unknown substance, and you think you've been sexually assaulted, go to your nearest sexual assault referral centre (SARC) for specialist care and support.

You can also get help from a GP surgery, A&E or a sexual health clinic.

If your drink has been spiked but you've not been sexually assaulted, call 111 for urgent medical advice if you have any symptoms you're worried about.

Also, contact the police to tell them what happened.

Find more information and advice about spiking on the Frank website
Looking for forensic evidence

If you have been sexually assaulted, you don't have to have a forensic medical examination. However, it can provide useful evidence if the case goes to court. It’s possible to collect evidence, such as DNA, evidence of spiking and loose hair as part of the medical evidence.

You can decide at any stage if you would like a forensic medical examination. However, the sooner this takes place, the more chance of collecting evidence. If the assault occurred more than 7 days ago, it is still worth asking for advice from a SARC or the police about a forensic medical examination if you would like to have one.

Usually, the doctor or nurse will take the samples, such as swabs from anywhere you have been kissed, touched or had anything inserted. They might also take urine and blood samples and occasionally hair, depending on the information you provide about the assault, and also retain some clothing and other items (if they do they will give you new clothes).

You can choose to only have some samples taken, for example, urine or clothing. It's important to have the samples taken as soon as possible, as forensic evidence will wear and wash away.

If you haven't decided whether to involve the police, any forensic medical evidence that's collected will be stored at the SARC. This allows you time to decide if you do want to report the assault.

In some SARCs you can choose to have your samples processed without identifying you (in case the person who assaulted you has assaulted someone else).
If you report the assault to the police

If you do decide to report the assault to the police, a police officer specially trained in supporting people who have been sexually assaulted will talk to you and help to make sure you understand what's going on at each stage.

The police will investigate the assault. You will be offered a forensic medical examination and will be asked to make a statement about what happened (what you say is written down, which you check and sign). The police will pass their findings, including the forensic report, to the Crown Prosecution Service, who will decide whether the case should go to trial.

To find out more about what's involved in an investigation and trial, you can: Talk to an ISVA, supporting police officer or charity such as Rape Crisis
Find out more on GOV.UK about going to court as a victim or witness
Download a booklet called From Report to Court: A handbook for adult survivors of sexual violence, produced by the charity Rights of Women
Confidentiality

Your details will be kept as confidential as possible. However, if there's a police investigation or criminal prosecution linked to the assault, any material relating to it is "disclosable". This means it may have to be produced in court.

If there is no investigation or prosecution, information about you won't be shared with other services without your permission, unless there's a concern that you or anyone else is at risk of serious harm.
Supporting someone who has been sexually assaulted

Advice for relatives and friends of someone who has been sexually assaulted includes: Believe what they're saying and tell them this.
Listen to the person, but don't ask for details of the assault. Don't ask them why they didn't stop it. This can make them feel as though you blame them.
Offer practical support, such as asking them if they would like you to go with them to appointments.
Respect their decisions – for example, whether or not they want to report the assault to the police.
Bear in mind they might not want to be touched. Even a hug might upset them, so ask first. If you're in a sexual relationship with them, be aware that sex might be frightening, and don't put pressure on them to have sex.
Don't tell them to forget about the assault. It will take time for them to deal with their feelings and emotions. You can help by listening and being patient.

Find out more about how to support a survivor on the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre website
If you're worried about a child

If you're worried about a child, it's important you talk to a professional who can make sure they are safe. Who you speak to will depend on the situation.

A young person might talk to a trusted teacher who would refer to something called the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) if needed.

You can also talk to someone from the MASH, or a social worker or the police if you prefer. You don't have to give your name.

You can find the number of your local MASH if you search online for MASH in your area.

You can also contact the NSPCC helpline.

SOURCE:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/(accessed 27.8.26)

Infographic: Spotting the Signs of Elder Abuse

Abuse can happen to anyone, no matter the person’s age, sex, race, religion, or ethnic background. Each year, hundreds of thousands of adults over the age of 60 are abused, neglected, or financially exploited. This mistreatment is called elder abuse.

Abuse can happen anywhere, including in the older person’s home, a family member’s home, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. The mistreatment of older adults can be by family members, strangers, health care providers, caregivers, or friends.
Types of abuse

There are many types of abuse:
Physical abuse happens when someone causes bodily harm; for example, by hitting, pushing, or slapping. Physical abuse may also include restraining an older adult against their will, such as by locking them in a room or tying them to furniture.
Emotional abuse, sometimes called psychological abuse, can include a caregiver saying hurtful words, yelling, threatening, or repeatedly ignoring the older adult. Keeping that person from seeing close friends and relatives is another form of emotional abuse.
Neglect occurs when the caregiver does not try to respond to the older adult’s needs. Neglect may include ignoring physical, emotional, and social needs, or withholding food, medications, or access to health care.
Abandonment is leaving an older adult who needs help alone without planning for their care.
Sexual abuse involves forcing an older adult to watch or be part of sexual acts.
Financial abuse happens when money or belongings are misused or stolen from an older adult. It can include forging checks, taking someone else’s retirement or Social Security benefits, withholding access to money or financial information, or using a person’s credit cards and bank accounts without their permission. It also includes changing names on a will, bank account, life insurance policy, or title to a house without permission.
Who is being abused?

Abuse can happen to any older adult. Most victims of abuse are women, but some are men. Older adults without family or friends nearby and people with disabilities, memory problems, or dementia may be more vulnerable to abuse. Mistreatment most often affects those who depend on others for help with activities of everyday life — including bathing, dressing, and taking medicine.
Money matters

Older adults and caregivers should keep an eye out for financial abuse. Even someone a person has never met can steal their financial information using the telephone, internet, or email.

In addition to the theft of money or belongings, financial abuse also includes:Financial neglect: ignoring or avoiding an older adult’s financial responsibilities, such as paying rent or mortgage, medical expenses or insurance, utility bills, or property taxes.
Financial exploitation: the misuse, mismanagement, or exploitation of property, belongings, or assets. This form of financial abuse includes using an older adult’s assets without consent, under false pretenses, or through intimidation or manipulation.
Health care fraud: a form of financial abuse committed by health care providers, hospital staff, or other health care workers. It includes intentionally overcharging, billing twice for the same service, charging for care that wasn’t provided, or falsifying Medicaid or Medicare claims.
What are signs of abuse?

Share this infographic about how to spot the signs of elder abuse.

You may see signs of abuse or neglect when you visit an older adult at home or in a residential facility. An older person might be a victim of abuse if they:Become withdrawn or act agitated or violent
Display signs of trauma such as rocking back and forth
Have unexplained pressure marks, bruises, burns, cuts, or scars
Develop preventable conditions such as bedsores (open sores that can develop when a person stays in one position for a long time, such as being confined to a bed)
Have hazardous, unsafe, or unclean living conditions
Look messy, with unwashed hair, dirty clothes, or poor dental hygiene
Lack personal health care items such as glasses, a walker, dentures, or hearing aid
Have sudden and unexpected financial losses or unpaid bills despite having adequate financial resources

Watch for a pattern that might suggest a problem, and seek help if you are concerned.
How can you help spot elder abuse if you live far away?


From a distance, it can be hard to assess the quality of a family member’s care. Ideally, if there is a primary caregiver on the scene, they can keep tabs on how things are going. Or perhaps you can ask a friend or neighbor to stop by unannounced to check on the older adult.

Stay in touch with the older adult and take note of any comments or mood changes that might indicate neglect or mistreatment. Talk to someone who can act on your behalf. That might be the person’s doctor, your contact at a home health agency, or a geriatric care manager. If you feel that your family member is in immediate danger, call 911.

Who can help?

If you think someone you know is being abused — physically, emotionally, or financially — talk with them when the two of you are alone. You could say you think something is wrong and you’re worried. Offer to take them to get help, for instance, at a local adult protective services agency.

Most importantly, if you suspect an older person is being abused, report what you see to an authority. Many older adults are too ashamed to report mistreatment. Or they’re afraid if they make a report, it will get back to the abuser and make the situation worse. Therefore, family and friends must step in to address any problems. Most states also require that doctors and lawyers report elder mistreatment.

Some types of elder abuse may be criminal. You do not personally need to prove that abuse is occurring; professionals will investigate. Many local, state, and national social service agencies can help. These include:Adult Protective Services programs help protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The National Adult Protective Services Association provides phone numbers for programs in each state on its website or by calling 202-370-6292.
The National Center on Elder Abuse provides guidance on how to report abuse, where to get help, and state laws that deal with abuse and neglect. Visit the Center online or call 855-500-3537 for more information.
Long-term care ombudsmen advocate for the needs of people who live in assisted living facilities, board and care homes, and nursing homes. They are trained to help resolve problems. Find a long-term care ombudsman in your state online or by calling 202-332-2275.

If you think someone is in urgent danger, call 911.
Caregiver stress and finding support

Caring for an older adult can be rewarding. It can also be demanding and stressful. A caregiver under stress might not even realize he or she is being neglectful or abusive.

If you are a caregiver, make time to rest and take care of your own needs. Ask a family member or friend to help for a weekend, or even for a few hours. Churches, synagogues, and other faith-based organizations in your community may have volunteers who can visit and help on a regular basis.

Respite care can also provide a break for caregivers. This care can be arranged for an afternoon or for several days or weeks. Visit the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center’s National Respite Locator Service to find respite services in your area.
What is the long-term effect of abuse?

Most physical wounds heal in time. But elder abuse can lead to early death, cause harm to physical and psychological health, destroy social and family ties, lead to devastating financial loss, and more.

Any type of mistreatment can leave the abused person feeling fearful and depressed. Sometimes, the victim thinks the abuse is their fault. Adult protective service agencies can suggest support groups and counseling that can help the abused person heal the emotional wounds.

SOURCE:

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/elder-abuse/elder-abuse(accessed 27.8.26)

Reclaiming Resilience: Why we’ve misunderstood one of psychology’s most important concepts

Dr Warren Donnellan draws on his research to challenge common ideas about resilience.

17 August 2026



Few ideas in psychology have become as popular as resilience. It's now a staple of workplace wellbeing programmes, school assemblies, health and social care campaigns, and social media feeds. Yet despite — or perhaps because of — its popularity, resilience has developed something of a PR problem. Being told to "be more resilient" no longer feels encouraging. Instead, it can sound like a polite way of saying: cope with more, ask for less.

So how did this valuable psychological concept become one of the discipline's most controversial?

Why resilience has a PR problem
It's not difficult to see where the scepticism comes from. Across many different sectors, people are increasingly being asked to do more with fewer resources. Against that backdrop, calls to "be more resilient" can feel less like support and more like an expectation to quietly absorb mounting pressures.

I've encountered this repeatedly when discussing my research with carers. Although many carers find resilience a useful way of understanding their experiences, some have described resilience as "a person's ability to absorb a lack of support" or "the system's excuse to leave us unsupported". These aren't criticisms of people's ability to adapt — they're criticisms of the way resilience is sometimes used to shift responsibility away from organisations and systems. Those concerns deserve to be taken seriously. But perhaps we've begun to confuse the misuse of resilience with resilience itself.

Resilience isn't something we have
Psychology has generated a vast evidence base on the risks associated with adversity, from stress and trauma to anxiety and depression. That work has been invaluable. But understanding vulnerability is only part of the picture. We also need to understand adaptation. How do so many people continue to function despite profound challenges? This is the question at the heart of resilience research.

There's an important distinction between the way resilience is often talked about and the way psychologists understand it. Modern resilience research no longer views resilience as a fixed personality trait that some people simply possess while others do not. Instead, resilience is increasingly understood as a dynamic process of adapting to significant adversity over time. In other words, resilience isn't something we are or have. It's something we do. Because resilience is a process, it can develop, falter, and recover through interactions between individuals, their relationships, communities, and wider environments.

This perspective helps explain one of the most consistent findings in resilience research: resilience is remarkably common. The remarkable thing about resilience is not that it is exceptional, but that it is ordinary. Most people eventually adapt to adversity, even if that journey involves distress, uncertainty, and setbacks. Resilience isn't the absence of suffering; it's the process of moving forwards despite it.

Resilience is something we do
We can't simply 'download' resilience. It develops through interactions between individual strengths, supportive relationships, and wider environments — not through a self-help book, motivational slogan, or wellbeing workshop.

Over the past decade, my research with carers of people living with dementia has pointed to one consistent conclusion: resilience rarely resides within individuals alone. Rather than thinking of resilience as something people carry inside them, it may be more helpful to think of it as an ecosystem.

Individual resources matter. Psychological flexibility, maintaining identity, and developing expertise all help people adapt. But these strengths rarely operate in isolation. Friends and family, sense of community, and accessible, timely health and social care all help sustain resilience.

What often looks like individual resilience is, in reality, the visible outcome of collective support. When those supports are strengthened, people are better able to adapt. When they're weakened, resilience becomes much harder to sustain. Understanding resilience in this way doesn't minimise adversity or shift attention away from people's needs. Instead, it provides a constructive framework for intervention by identifying the individual, social, and structural resources that enable people to adapt.

Why reclaiming resilience matters
None of this means we should stop questioning the way resilience is used in public discourse. If resilience becomes an excuse to justify preventable suffering or under-resourced services, then the criticism is entirely justified.
But abandoning resilience altogether would be a mistake. Properly understood, resilience doesn't shift responsibility onto individuals. It reminds us just how important supportive relationships, strong communities, and effective systems really are.

The problem isn't resilience. It's how we've come to talk about it — treating it as something that exists independently of the conditions that make it possible.
Perhaps it's time we stopped using resilience as a demand and started recognising it for what the evidence base has long suggested it really is: not something we simply possess, but something we do — together.

Dr Warren Donnellan is a Senior Lecturer based in the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool.

ΠΗΓΗ:

https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/reclaiming-resilience-why-weve-misunderstood-one-psychologys-most-important(accessed 25.8.26)

Do people really believe the conspiracy theories they say they do?

A recent paper looks more closely at suspiciously high research estimates of conspiracy endorsement.

24 July 2026

By Emma Young



An alarming number of people believe conspiracy theories. At least, this is the conclusion drawn from a raft of recent research, with one study finding, for example, that 4% of the American participants endorsed the idea that shape-shifting reptilian people control the world. This led to controversial claims that about 12 million Americans believe it.

In a recent study in Collabra: Psychology, Robert M. Ross at Macquarie University set out to explore, though, whether people actually believe conspiracy theories that they endorse in studies. Their results suggest that we should be cautious about assuming that they do.

The researchers studied 1,044 Australians, who were first asked which of seven conspiracy theory statements were definitely or probably true or false, or whether they didn't know. Six of these were pre-existing conspiracy theories: that one or the other of two main political parties in Australia was planning on engaging in voter fraud to steal the next federal election; that the idea of man-made global warming is a hoax; that a secret group of Satan-worshipping paedophiles has taken control of parts of the Australian federal government and mainstream media; that governments are covering up the fact that 5G mobile networks spread Covid; that Covid is a myth created by some powerful forces and the virus doesn't really exist. (These last two were deliberately contradictory.)

The researchers also added a theory that they concocted to be deliberately bizarre: 'The Canadian armed forces have been secretly developing an elite army of genetically engineered, super intelligent, giant raccoons to invade nearby countries.'

After indicating whether they endorsed any of these statements, the participants were then asked whether they had responded randomly or insincerely at any point in the survey.

When the team analysed the data, they found a "remarkably consistent" pattern. Participants who didn't endorse the unlikely raccoon army theory were least likely to endorse each of the other conspiracy theories. Those who said they'd answered sincerely formed the next biggest group of people who tended not to endorse each of the genuine conspiracy theories, followed by those who'd admitted to some insincere responses. The researchers found the exact same group ordering for the participants who'd endorsed both of the contradictory Covid theories.

They also found that participants who endorsed the racoon theory on average endorsed four of the other six statements, while those who rejected the racoon theory endorsed an average of just 0.5 of them. The racoon-endorsers were also far more likely than the others to accept the contradictory conspiracy theories, with 55% endorsing them, compared with just 1.92% of the participants who thought the racoon theory was false.

In addition, the analysis revealed that overall, 1 in 10 participants endorsed the racoon army conspiracy theory. Just over a third of these people admitted to responding insincerely, compared with 11% of those that did not endorse the racoon army plot.

These results led the team to a number of conclusions. Firstly, though some other studies have claimed that belief in contradictory conspiracy theories is not uncommon, these results suggest a reframing of those findings: "many participants who endorse clearly contradictory conspiracy theories are not reporting sincere beliefs." The results also suggest that many people who say that they endorse wild conspiracy theories in a survey may not actually believe in those theories, either.

The researchers acknowledge that even if the racoon-endorsers were removed from the analysis, the other theories were supported by between 2% and 14% of the participants, however. "For this reason, our results are consistent with the possibility that a non-trivial proportion of participants sincerely believe some of the conspiracy theories that they endorsed," the researchers write.

They think the main takeaway is, though, that fewer people may believe conspiracy theories — and especially bizarre and clearly contradictory ones — than previous estimates have suggested. Researchers "need to get out of the habit of assuming that when participants endorse claims in surveys then they sincerely believe them; instead, they should seriously consider the possibility that they might not — especially when these claims are bizarre," the team argues.

In fact, they think their work flags a need for researchers investigating conspiracy theory endorsement to include a way of identifying deliberately insincere responding in their surveys, in the way that methods for identifying careless responding are already used.

Read the paper in full:
Ross, R. M., Ashton, L., Wilson, S., Gleeson, K., & Levy, N. (2026). Do people sincerely believe conspiracy theories that they endorse?. Collabra: Psychology, 12(1), 159253. https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.159253

SOURCE:

https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/do-people-really-believe-conspiracy-theories-they-say-they-do(accessed 14.8.26)