Psychological safety : coercive control

The diagram illustrates the specific psychological tactics deployed in the cycle of coercive control enacted by coercive controllers to control women (in heterosexual relationships that statistically identifies that the dominant partner is male), in unhealthy intimate relationships.

Each tactic will be considered in relation to dark pattern user experience design, in the journal posts that follow. Both screen based and HMD VR applications will be deconstructed and examined in turn. 

Context : systems within systems - disjointed attitudes beliefs, values and behaviour... 

1. Consumerist society 

2. Patriarchal systems - Designed by men to benefit men 

3. Misogyntic attitudes - hatred of women due to poor early caregivers / early intimate relationship experience / misogynistic fathers / influence of patriarchal systems etc and their fear of the loss of power and status. 

4. Dehumanisation of women

5. Commodification of women 

6. Consumption of women for labour/status as commodities. 

7. Coercive control as a process of taking control of women (psychological control) 

8. Preemptive step towards physical violence 

9. Violence against women in EU and worldwide. 

10. Womens independence- property ownership, earning potential, choice in caring responsibilities etc 

11. male loneliness epidemic 

12. Male suicide rates 

13. Women needing equality 

13. New generations of men wanting equality, partnership and mutual respect regardless of the lack of positive role models. Older generations willing and able to adjust to a changing relational landscape…