In Ecuador, there is dissatisfaction due to the lack of uniformity of technical and legal criteria when carrying out psychological expertise on psychological damage in cases of violence against women. This article addresses the current expert action in Ecuador regarding the assessment of psychological damage in cases of violence against women, according to the Protocol for Judicial Management and Expert Action in Cases of Violence Against Women or Family Members. This research will analyze the limitations encountered by psychology experts when assessing psychological damage, and will show the scope (benefits) that this psychological expertise represents for the legal forum (judges, prosecutors, law enforcement actors in general). Finally, as a recommendation, technical guidelines are offered to facilitate both the work of the expert and the understanding of the forensic psychological rep...

The cycle of violence is a repetitive structure of dysfunctional affective couple interaction, a sum of negative emotions that inhibits the woman victim of violence from making assertive decisions regarding her personal development and life-time plans. In this paper we will discuss its construction from the perspective of male-oriented violence and, without pretending to justify it, we will explain the violent behavior, the relationship of this cycle and risk factors to which women victims of violence are exposed, taking as a reference an interview conducted within a scientific research process (doctoral thesis), for which the respective informed consent was obtained.

Due to detected issues in Ecuadorian practices on the forensic psychological assessment of psychological damage or effects on women victims of violence, this paper aims to characterize the forensic psychological assessment carried out to date from those professionals’ perspectives. It allows the authors to define indicators for improving those psychological practices. The data were gathered by applying a validated questionnaire supported on Google Forms to a sample of thirty-one professionals from the public and private sectors. Regarding the current practices carried out by those professionals, the authors conclude there is a trend of lacking knowledge on its legal and ethical foundations and did not follow a theoretical-methodological model as a guide, while the psychological tests used limit the approach to a complex phenomenon such as violence. However, they recognize the need to i...

In today’s world, where the word corruption is commonly associated with a lack of ethical and moral values, as well as the overwhelming human desire to have rather than to be, many of us hold on to the hope of awakening to the light of ethics and conscience, knowing that amidst so much structural violence, something is fundamentally wrong in society.In this context, the professional work of forensic psychologists is not exempt from being corruptible, especially when theoretical foundations that could support or guide their work in the forensic field are lacking.This article aims to encourage self-criticism among forensic psychologists so that, guided by ethical principles, they are motivated to foster meaningful social learning. This involves identifying critical challenges in their practice and committing to improving them to advance in this regard, achieving psycho-legal intervention...

In Ecuador, there is dissatisfaction due to the lack of uniformity of technical and legal criteria when carrying out psychological expertise on psychological damage in cases of violence against women. This article addresses the current expert action in Ecuador regarding the assessment of psychological damage in cases of violence against women, according to the Protocol for Judicial Management and Expert Action in Cases of Violence Against Women or Family Members. This research will analyze the limitations encountered by psychology experts when assessing psychological damage, and will show the scope (benefits) that this psychological expertise represents for the legal forum (judges, prosecutors, law enforcement actors in general). Finally, as a recommendation, technical guidelines are offered to facilitate both the work of the expert and the understanding of the forensic psychological rep...

The cycle of violence is a repetitive structure of dysfunctional affective couple interaction, a sum of negative emotions that inhibits the woman victim of violence from making assertive decisions regarding her personal development and life-time plans. In this paper we will discuss its construction from the perspective of male-oriented violence and, without pretending to justify it, we will explain the violent behavior, the relationship of this cycle and risk factors to which women victims of violence are exposed, taking as a reference an interview conducted within a scientific research process (doctoral thesis), for which the respective informed consent was obtained.

Due to detected issues in Ecuadorian practices on the forensic psychological assessment of psychological damage or effects on women victims of violence, this paper aims to characterize the forensic psychological assessment carried out to date from those professionals’ perspectives. It allows the authors to define indicators for improving those psychological practices. The data were gathered by applying a validated questionnaire supported on Google Forms to a sample of thirty-one professionals from the public and private sectors. Regarding the current practices carried out by those professionals, the authors conclude there is a trend of lacking knowledge on its legal and ethical foundations and did not follow a theoretical-methodological model as a guide, while the psychological tests used limit the approach to a complex phenomenon such as violence. However, they recognize the need to i...

In today’s world, where the word corruption is commonly associated with a lack of ethical and moral values, as well as the overwhelming human desire to have rather than to be, many of us hold on to the hope of awakening to the light of ethics and conscience, knowing that amidst so much structural violence, something is fundamentally wrong in society.In this context, the professional work of forensic psychologists is not exempt from being corruptible, especially when theoretical foundations that could support or guide their work in the forensic field are lacking.This article aims to encourage self-criticism among forensic psychologists so that, guided by ethical principles, they are motivated to foster meaningful social learning. This involves identifying critical challenges in their practice and committing to improving them to advance in this regard, achieving psycho-legal intervention...