Psychological violence against men in new romantic relationships

Abstract

Globally and locally, psychological violence perpetrated against men within intimate partner relationships constitutes a silent phenomenon that impairs mental and relational health, given that gender roles hinder its visibility and prevent awareness of male victimization. In order to understand how psychological violence experienced in a previous relationship shapes the construction of new affective bonds in men, a qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study with a multiple-case design was conducted. The sample consisted of five men from the Gender Unit of the Manta Prosecutor's Office (Ecuador), and data collection was carried out through documentary review and semi-structured interviews, analyzing the information using a thematic reflexive approach. The results demonstrate the recurrence of jealousy, contempt, manipulation, and restriction of autonomy in previous relationships, from which participants could not separate earlier because their stay was driven by child protection and expectations of change. Furthermore, the aftermath of the breakup triggered consequences of anxiety and hypervigilance which, far from producing a uniform deterioration, were resignified into relational learning that fosters the early establishment of boundaries, caution in partner selection, and the possibility of open communication. It is concluded that psychological sequelae mediate the way men build affective bonds as self-protection mechanisms, enabling a reorganization of the relationship based on guarantees of autonomy, respect, and emotional co-responsibility.