The role of emotional experience of violence for self-identity of women occupied with prostitution

In accordance with modem researches, violence experienced in childhood is a predictor to forming the marginal personal organization. That's why the hy pothesis that women occupied with prostitution have such a personal structu re may be advanced. The empirical research was made and confirmed this supp osition. The women occupied with prostitution report about the sexual and p hysical violence experienced in childhood more often then persons from cont rol group; the traits of the typical marginal persons such as person's diff usion, the low level of cognitive self-image support with high field-depend ence and intensive involvement of affective components, the use of the prim itive defensive mechanisms are also usual for them. The specific parameters of self-image of women occupied with prostitution particularly connected w ith this kind of activity and child's emotional experience are discussed.