From the case of Johnny Depp – Amber Heard, psychologist: “There is no mutually abusive relationship”

During the trial of the case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, the couple’s former marriage counselor testified Amber’s testimony and asserted that the two’s relationship was a “mutually abusive” relationship. “. However, in reality, according to psychologists, this “mutual abuse” does not exist in a relationship because it also means that it ignores the inherent power in relationships. this form of abuse and mistreatment.

According to psychologist Lori Beth Bisbey – who has 30 years of experience in the profession, in an abusive relationship there will be only the attacker and the victim. “An abusive relationship requires one person to control the other. A relationship can be toxic to both partners, i.e. one is not supportive of the other and both are fake in front of each other. However, with abuse and violence, it will only happen one way, “said the psychologist.

Abuse is defined as “a pattern of behavior one person uses to maintain power and control over another in an intimate relationship”. Abuse is not limited to physical violence, but also comes in many forms, such as emotional abuse, verbal abuse (including threats, insults). Either way, the attacker’s goal is to take power and control the opponent.

The executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence also asserts that in an abusive relationship, both people can act in toxic ways towards each other and push the relationship to an end. unhealthy. However, abuse alone would still require a primary aggressor. If the other person reacts violently, physically or mentally, it means they are protecting themselves, not becoming an abuser.

(Photo: Cleveland Clinic)

From a third-person perspective of the two insiders’ relationship, toxic expressions can come from both people, but that doesn’t mean there’s “mutual abuse or violence.” . A person’s resistance to an attacker can be seen as self-defense, appearing in many forms such as verbal or physical disparagement. This self-defense will begin during a time when the violent behavior is happening or the victim believes they are about to be abused, which causes them to sense a threat and begin to defend themselves. This also means that, if defensive behavior occurs without any threat, it will no longer be called defensive behavior.

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