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Published on: 04/23/2026 - 17:35
Can a person be deprived of his freedom... while he is satisfied? Can you live in a destructive relationship... without realizing that you are a victim? Psychological domination or control is one of the most dangerous forms of invisible violence. It does not always leave physical marks... but it destroys a person from within and turns love... and family... into a silent prison full of fear and restrictions. In this episode of “In the Sphere of the Forbidden,” Salma Bungara takes you on a shocking journey into the depths of the human soul, to understand how this hidden control works... and how victims fall into it unconsciously. A powerful and painful testimony presented by Ali Habibi, in which he reveals with rare courage how he broke the wall of silence and shame... and how those closest to him can become part of the system of silence and complicity. How is psychological dominance formed? Why do victims not realize they are under its influence until it is too late? Is it possible to restore oneself... after years of brokenness?
Silence: the first control mechanism
French actress Emmanuelle Béart describes this condition vividly:
“At first, it was the little girl's silence. Even if I wasn't speaking, it didn't mean I didn't understand.
But I couldn't find the words... and I couldn't find the person to say it to.
Then comes the silence of adults, and this silence is unhealthy and destructive.”
This double silence, the silence of the victim and the silence of the surrounding, is one of the most dangerous tools of psychological domination. In many cases, the child or victim tries to break this silence... but the reactions he receives may push him to close down again, so that the silence becomes part of his identity over time.
How does psychological dominance work?
Psychological dominance does not happen suddenly, but rather creeps in gradually through precise mechanisms:
Psychological isolation
Cutting the victim off from her surroundings and weakening her ties.
Cognitive confusion
Reality becomes blurry, and the victim begins to doubt herself.
Psychological manipulation (gaslighting)
Imposing a narrative that is different from reality causes the victim to lose confidence in their perception.
Reversing roles
The aggressor turns into a “victim”... and the victim bears the blame.
“There are many ways to rob a person of himself.”
In Le Consentement, Vanessa Springora writes:
“There are many ways to rob someone of themselves... some of which seem innocent at first.”
She recounts her relationship at the age of fourteen with Gabriel Matzneff, where dominance was hidden behind what appeared to be “consent.”
Here lies the danger:
Control does not always come by force... Rather, it is built gradually, until a person loses his ability to distinguish.
Why does awareness come late?
Victims often say:
“I was under the influence... but I didn’t know it.”
This is due to:
Psychological protection mechanisms (denial/dissociation)
The intersection between love and fear
Emotional dependence on the abuser
The victim does not see the whole truth... while she is inside the relationship.
Are the victims vulnerable?
Answer: No.
Studies indicate that:
Empathetic people are more vulnerable and powerful people may be specifically targeted. Hegemony does not look for weakness... but rather for susceptibility to influence.
Does consent mean freedom?
Vanessa Springora asks a complex question:
“How can a person admit that he was assaulted... when he cannot deny that he consented?”
In the context of psychological domination, “consent” is not always evidence of freedom... Rather, it may be the result of gradual pressure or manipulation.
Between control and domination, the philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre says:
“While I seek to subjugate others... others seek to subjugate me.”
But in psychological domination, there is no balance... but rather an unequal relationship in which one party completely loses his freedom.
Law challenges
Is psychological domination a crime?
The problem is that this type of violence:
Leaves no physical traces
Difficult to prove
It falls into a legal gray area
This makes protecting victims a real challenge.
Episode guests:
- Ali Habibi, writer
- Fatima Al-Dhabiri, lawyer and law professor at Kuwait University
- Dr. Nizar Al-Yalamahi, clinical psychologist
- Bechara Tarabay, lawyer
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