Intimate Partner Violence in the Ultra-Orthodox Community: Mechanisms of Control and Religious Authority
Intimate Partner Violence in the Ultra-Orthodox Community: Mechanisms of Control and Religious Authority
Dr. Daniel Weisshut of the Department of Psychology, together with Dr. Sarah Zaltzberg of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Shandong–Tel Aviv Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, have published an article in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence titled:
“Coercive Control Through Religious Authority: Intimate Partner Violence in the Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Community”
Based on interviews with 16 social workers from the ultra-Orthodox community, the study examined patterns of intimate partner violence against women, focusing on mechanisms of control rooted in cultural practices and social norms.
The researchers identified four key mechanisms: deliberate silencing, spiritual coercion, sexism, and financial control, all operating within a persistent climate of emotional abuse.
The findings highlight how religious authority and community norms may be used to justify control and harm against women, even in the absence of physical violence or financial dependence, making it more difficult for women to leave abusive relationships.
The full article can be found here:
