REPRESENTATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE IN MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS AND THE INFLUENCE OF CHILDHOOD FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS: A FILM ANALYSIS OF *IT ENDS WITH US

Abstract

 Psychological violence in marital relationships constitutes one of the most subtle and complex forms of abuse, often masked by emotional and affective dynamics. Understanding how these behaviors are formed and perpetuated throughout life is essential to promote reflection on their origins and impacts on human relationships. This study aims to analyze the representation of psychological violence in marital relationships and to understand how family experiences lived in childhood can influence the persistence or repetition of these patterns in adult life. The analysis was carried out based on the film It Ends with Us, an adaptation of the literary work by Colleen Hoover, which portrays the emotional trajectory of the protagonist facing an abusive relationship marked by subtle behaviors of control, manipulation, and emotional invalidation. Through a qualitative and bibliographic approach, grounded in studies on psychological violence, emotional dependency, and intergenerational transmission of affective patterns, the study sought to identify how the family context of origin acts on the perception of love and tolerance of abuse. The results show that experiences of emotional neglect, exposure to parental conflicts, or dysfunctional models of coexistence can normalize abusive behaviors, making it more difficult to recognize psychological violence. It is concluded that the cinematographic production analyzed has social relevance by promoting reflection and awareness about invisible forms of violence, reinforcing the importance of emotional education and the strengthening of public policies aimed at preventing domestic violence.