NCJ Number
245454
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 28 Issue: 4 Dated: May 2013 Pages: 339-349
Date Published
April 2013
Length
11 pages
Annotation
In this paper the authors set forth two fundamental types of religion-related emotional abuse and discuss the complex role that religion can play in perpetuating abusive family relationships.
Abstract
Religion provides directives for positive moral action and the promotion of human welfare; but religious beliefs can also foster and justify abusive behavior in the context of family life and child rearing. Parents, who are emotionally distraught and cannot control their responses to their child's needs or misbehavior, might wield religious ideas to intimidate and control their children. In this paper the authors set forth two fundamental types of religion-related emotional abuse and discuss the complex role that religion can play in perpetuating abusive family relationships. The authors address the emotional aspects of religion-related abuse and also its transgenerational transfer. The authors present a case illustration focusing on how such abuse leads to dysfunctional patterns of behavior in family relationships and disruptions in emotion regulation processes. Applying a Relational Family Therapy model, the authors consider select therapeutic implications for addressing and overcoming religious abuse and restoring functional emotion regulation processes in families. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.