Coming to Terms with Violence and Resistance

Therapists have a direct interest in the judicious use of language and regularly grapple with the question of “which words should be fitted to which deeds” (Danet, 1980, p. 189). This question is particularly important where there is violence because both perpetrators and victims tend to misrepresent themselves (Scott, 1990). Perpetrators use language strategically in combination with physical or authoritybased power to isolate and threaten the victim, manipulate public appearances, and avoid responsibility. Victims use language tactically1 to express or conceal their resistance, evade the violence, avoid negative social judgments, and retain maximum control of their circumstances.