DISTAL COERCION - CASE-STUDIES

Distal coercion is a process in which an abused woman fears a batterer who is not geographically present. The victim experiences trauma in a hostage-type relationship, even in the absence of the batterer. Subse quent trauma symptoms account for the victim's unusual behavior, such as involvement with a batterer who kills her child, engaging in conspi racy to murder the batterer, and bizarre behavior (of the victim) foll owing her killing the batterer. Identification of these unusual behavi ors among battered women is noted as critical in the prevention and tr eatment of battered women, as well as in forensic testimony.