A qualitative study of psychological abuse in same-gender couples: Identification, types, and explanations

Abstract

Although research on psychological abuse in same-gender couples has increased in recent decades, mainly in English-speaking countries, it is still scarce in Spanish-speaking countries. The aim of this study was to examine experiences of victimization and perpetration of psychological abuse in same-gender relationships, possible explanations for this abuse, and the difficulties experienced by the victims in identifying it. Twelve semi-structured interviews were carried out with lesbian, gay, and bisexual people living in Spain who had experienced psychological abuse in same-gender couples. Through the thematic analysis of the interviews, some psychological abuse strategies were identified: isolation from friends, isolation in the home, control over personal life, emotional abuse, imposing one's ideas, and threatening to out one's partner. Participants provided some explanations for psychological abuse: influence of internalized lesbophobia, biphobia, and gayphobia, seeing the partner as a possession, and a prior experience of violence. The invisibility of same-gender violence and the heteronormative view of gender roles in the couple are pointed out as difficulties for identifying abuse. This study expands scientific knowledge about the psychological abuse strategies experienced in same-gender couples in the Spanish context and singles out some factors that influence the phenomenon and lead to difficulties in identifying abuse.