Han kallar det för kärlek : En tematisk textanalys gällande det psykiska våldets karaktär och psykosociala konsekvenser för våldsutsatta kvinnor inom våld i nära relationer

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study is to gain a deeper understanding about the nature of psychological violence in heterosexual relationships. The study's method consists of a qualitative research approach where the data source consists of six autobiographies. A thematic, theory-driven, text analysis of the autobiographies has been made, where the gender power perspective is used as a theoretical grid. The thematic text analysis has generated four main themes with two or three sub-themes. The study contributes to an increased understanding of the factors that determine why women stay in destructive relationships and provides an insight into the vulnerability of women in a patriarchal society. The results of the study highlight that men's acts of violence is a strategy to gain a superior position over women. In addition, it is noted that psychological violence is expressed in different ways and what contributes to the violence becoming invisible to women. The study also shows that the nature of psychological violence enables a power imbalance between the parties, where women adapt their behavior and men's violence against them escalates. Finally, it is noted that there are internal and external factors that determine why women stay in violent relationships, as well as the psychosocial consequences of the violence.