Francesca Is Involved in an Abusive Relationship with Her Husband

question 84

Essay

Francesca is involved in an abusive relationship with her husband of 10 years that is characterized by episodic domestic violence. Knowing that she has three children, no career, and no relatives nearby to help leads her to believe that her situation is hopeless. Moreover, she is beginning to think she really does deserve the abuse she receives because of her stupid and thoughtless behaviour. She has asked her husband to go to marital counselling but he refuses. In his eyes, she is the problem. Francesca feels depressed and has suicidal ideation.
From a psychological perspective, how might learned helplessness theory help explain Francesca's depressed mood and feelings of hopelessness?

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Definitions:

Yearly Payments

Recurrent payments made over the span of a year, often associated with loans, leases, or annuities.

Future Value

The estimated amount of money an investment is expected to be worth in the future, taking into account a specific rate of growth or interest.

Discount Rate

A rate of interest used in discounted cash flow analysis for the purpose of determining the present value of incoming future cash streams.

Retirement Account

A financial account specifically designed for saving toward retirement, offering various tax advantages.