Psychology

Volume 5, Issue 10 (August 2014)

ISSN Print: 2152-7180   ISSN Online: 2152-7199

Google-based Impact Factor: 1.81  Citations  

Virginia Woolf’s History of Sexual Victimization: A Case Study in Light of Current Research

HTML  Download Download as PDF (Size: 2808KB)  PP. 1151-1164  
DOI: 10.4236/psych.2014.510128    13,609 Downloads   19,340 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

Virginia Woolf’s history of sexual victimization is presented in a case study format, and reviewed in light of the present literature on the impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) to human development. The methodology to compose the case study involved reviewing the works of Woolf’s main biographers, the author’s memoirs, and the groundbreaking work of Louise DeSalvo, presenting data from Woolf’s diaries and letters, in which sexual abuse is disclosed. Woolf was sexually abused by her two older half-brothers. The abuse was extremely traumatic, and lasted several years. The various mental health symptoms that Woolf experienced are consistent with the literature of CSA. Woolf also presented some adequate coping skills by disclosing the CSA publicly, keeping records of her depressive episodes, and seeking help. Like many incest survivors, Woolf’s sexual abuse was minimized and questioned by biographers. In addition to Woolf’s enormous literary legacy, her knowledge of psychology was impressive. She was a feminist, as well as a visionary in exploring the effects of CSA before other incest survivors. Understanding her life influences is advantageous, not only to literary scholars but to most readers, and mainly clinicians and researchers are interested in the dynamics of sexual abuse.

Share and Cite:

Williams, L. (2014). Virginia Woolf’s History of Sexual Victimization: A Case Study in Light of Current Research. Psychology, 5, 1151-1164. doi: 10.4236/psych.2014.510128.

Cited by

[1] A psychoanalytical reading of Mrs. Ramsay in 'To the Lighthouse'in relation to Virginia Woolf's personal life
Liberal Arts and Social Sciences …, 2022
[2] Creation at the risk of destruction: What was Virginia Woolf afraid of?
2021
[3] La créativité aux risques de la destructivité: de quoi avait peur Virginia Woolf?
2021
[4] The failure of Virginia woolf's characterization in Mrs. Dalloway and to the lighthouse
2020
[5] 9 Women and LGBTI youth as targets
2020
[6] Cuentos infantiles ilustrados como estrategia para prevenir el abuso sexual
2019
[7] Livro infantil especializado como estratégia de prevenção do abuso sexual
2019
[8] Violence Prevention in a Violent Country
2019
[9] SELF-PSYCHOANALYSIS IN VIRGINIA WOOLF: SUPPRESSION OF SEDUCTION
2018
[10] Fatores de risco e proteção vivenciados por mães encarceradas ao longo da vida
Estudos e Pesquisas em Psicologia, 2017
[11] Can't You Hear Them?: The Science and Significance of Hearing Voices
2017
[12] Factores de riesgo y protección experimentados por madres presas durante su vida
2017
[13] Vivências Sexuais de Universitários Vítimas de Abuso Sexual na Infância1
2016
[14] Virginia Woolf, neuroprogression, and bipolar disorder
2016
[15] Avaliação de capacitação para utilização do Protocolo NICHD em duas cidades brasileiras
Revista de Psicología, 2015
[16] FUNCTIONAL HYPOTHESES ABOUT HOMOPHOBIC ASSAULT: REPORTS OF LIVED EXPERIENCE
Análise do fen?meno da homofobia: Identificando contingências envolvidas, 2014

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.