DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REPORTED BY WOMEN ATTENDED AT A SPECIALIZED CENTER: ANALYSIS AND CORRELATIONS

Introduction: Violence against women constitutes a serious public health problem affecting diverse social classes, mostly occurring in their own homes, with the main aggressors being their partners. Objective: To assess the physical and psychological violence suffered by women who are victims of domestic violence and to characterize the perpetrator's behavior. Method: A cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive, and exploratory study was conducted at the Casa da Mulher Brasileira (Brazilian Women's House) in the city of São Luís, MA, using a closed, structured questionnaire investigating sociodemographic characteristics, violence, and the aggressor's behavior. Results: Psychological violence proved to be an almost universal characteristic in the victims' experience. Strategies of manipulation and devaluation were extremely frequent. The analysis of the aggressors' profile revealed a worrying pattern of antisocial and manipulative behaviors. Conclusion: The majority of victims of domestic violence are frequently associated with malignant narcissists/integrated psychopaths. Actions such as implementing public education programs on the subject are crucial so that victims can break free from such relationships as quickly as possible, since it is a dangerous situation and can ultimately cost lives.