13: Exploring Financial Abuse

Question 1

What are the learning objectives of Video 13?

Answer 1

Participants will be able to:
* Define ‘relational abuse’ and its contexts (e.g., intimate partner violence (IPV))
* Define ‘financial abuse’
* Identify and describe signs of financial abuse
* Outline the co-occurrence of relational and financial abuse
* Outline current research on financial abuse
* Outline the role of the CFT-I™ and how they can help

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Question 2

Who can experience abuse?

Answer 2

Abuse can occur in various relational connections, including:
* Male and Female Intimate Partners
* Male and Male Intimate Partners
* Female and Female Intimate Partners
* Parents and Children
* Parents and Adult Children
* Adult Children and Elderly Parents
* Grandparents and Grandchildren
* Siblings
* Uncles, Aunts, Cousins
* Step parents, Half & Step Siblings
* Anyone can experience abuse.

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Question 3

What is the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study?

Answer 3

One of the largest studies of childhood adverse experiences and later life health and well-being, involving 17,000 mostly white, middle class and upper middle class, college educated San Diegans receiving care through Kaiser Permanente. It used a 10-question ACE score.

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Question 4

What were some findings of the ACE Study?

Answer 4

Findings include:
* With an ACE score of four or more, medical and mental health conditions worsened significantly.
* 87% of participants had one or more adverse childhood experiences.
* The study initially aimed to understand individuals struggling with weight loss.

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Question 5

What is the definition of physical abuse?

Answer 5

Any intentional act causing injury or trauma to another person or animal by way of bodily contact. Victims can be children or adults in cases of domestic violence and workplace aggression.

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Question 6

What is the prevalence of physical aggression in couples?

Answer 6

Only 6% of couples initially report physical aggression, but 60% report experiencing a couple of physically aggressive behaviors in the last year. Negativity and withdrawal are often bigger issues in couples with lower reported physical aggression.

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Question 7

What trends exist in physical aggression in intimate relationships?

Answer 7

The largest percentage of experiences with physical aggression occurs in couples aged 20 to 35. Physical aggression declines with age, from 37% in 20-24 year olds to 2% in 65-69 year olds. In older couples, physical aggression can escalate due to powerlessness, shame, and fear.

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Question 8

What is the APA definition of sexual abuse?

Answer 8

Any unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats, or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. Immediate reactions include shock, fear, or disbelief, while long-term symptoms may include anxiety, fear, or PTSD.

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Question 9

What is the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse?

Answer 9

Approximately 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys are victims of childhood sexual abuse. Over a lifetime, 28% of U.S. youth ages 14 to 17 have been sexually victimized.

Boys are likely underrepresented due to social stigmatization.

Question 10

What is a potential psychological response to sexual abuse?

Answer 10

Individuals may develop dissociative processes to protect themselves from re-experiencing the pain, which involves leaving their present conscious awareness to feel detached and safe.

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Question 11

What is the definition of psychological/emotional abuse?

Answer 11

Any kind of verbal abuse and constant criticism to more subtle tactics such as intimidation, manipulation, and refusal to ever be pleased. Refusing to listen or communicate may also be abusive and can fall on the side of neglect.

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Question 12

What are examples of psychological/emotional abuse related to finances?

Answer 12

Examples include:
* Criticism about how a spouse spends money
* Being told they are incompetent in managing money
* Manipulation using money
* Money becoming a substitute for emotional nurturance.

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Question 13

What aspects are involved in religious and spiritual abuse?

Answer 13

May involve elements of fear, using the name of God to create threats, expected social disconnection, boundary violations, exceptional guilt or shame, and a complete acceptance of worthlessness.

Exists on a spectrum from uninformed good intentions to narcissistic control.

Question 14

What is the definition of financial or material abuse?

Answer 14

Includes theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.

England’s Department of Health and Home Office definition.

Question 15

What are examples of financial abuse?

Answer 15

Examples include:
* A sibling stealing another’s money
* Withholding resources for social inclusion
* Parents living incongruent with their financial standard, causing guilt in the child
* Family members spending money that was yours
* Family members forging signatures.

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Question 16

What is the definition of the Scale of Economic Abuse?

Answer 16

A list of 28 items to consider when identifying financial abuse.

Refer to subsequent flashcards for specific items.

Question 17

What are examples from the Scale of Economic Abuse (Part 1)?

Answer 17

Examples include:
* Stealing car keys or taking the car to prevent job searching
* Doing things to keep you from going to your job
* Beating you up for wanting to work
* Threatening to make you leave work.

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Question 18

What are examples from the Scale of Economic Abuse (Part 2)?

Answer 18

Examples include:
* Forcing you to give money or use your cards
* Stealing your property
* Preventing you from having your own money
* Taking your paycheck or other financial aid.

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Question 19

What are examples from the Scale of Economic Abuse (Part 3)?

Answer 19

Examples include:
* Keeping money needed for necessities
* Hiding money
* Gambling with your or shared money
* Keeping you from accessing bank accounts.

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Question 20

What are examples from the Scale of Economic Abuse (Part 4)?

Answer 20

Examples include:
* Making important financial decisions without you
* Threatening or beating you for paying bills
* Building up debt in your name
* Refusing to get a job so you have to support the family alone.

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Question 21

What themes are identified within financial abuse?

Answer 21

Themes include:
* Access
* Control
* Manipulation
* Secrecy
* Physical force
* Emotional abuse
* Spiritual abuse.

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Question 22

What are the limitations in academic literature on financial abuse?

Answer 22

Primarily focuses on elder financial abuse, with fewer articles on domestic violence and financial abuse, and limited to no articles on financial abuse in other family configurations.

Financial abuse can exist on a continuum.

Question 23

How can distorting views of entitlement contribute to financial abuse?

Answer 23

Distorted views about entitlement to assets can contribute to financial abuse, often as retaliation for unmet needs in earlier life stages. Power imbalances in relationships can raise issues of entitlement.

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Question 24

What is the difference between illegal and improper financial behaviors?

Answer 24

Differences include:
* Illegal behaviors: theft, fraud, extortion
* Improper behaviors: general mismanagement or living off funds incongruent with family goals or resources.

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Question 25

What are critical elements of relational assessment in the context of financial abuse?

Answer 25

Elements include: * Marital Satisfaction: overall happiness in the marriage * Ability to express your opinion without fear of reprisal: safety of communication * Commitment to make changes: willingness of partners to improve the relationship. ## Footnote None

Question 26

What is the role of the CFT-I™ coming from a financial background regarding abuse?

Answer 26

Roles include: * Recognize the potential impact of historical or present abuse on financial planning * Discuss the benefits of seeking mental health care for experiences of abuse * Help clients protect and manage their resources while regaining stability. ## Footnote None

Question 27

What is the role of the CFT-I™ coming from a mental health background regarding abuse?

Answer 27

Roles include: * Recognize financial trauma as a unique form of trauma * Assess for financial abuse as part of standard intake and ongoing assessment * Build connections between developmental experiences of financial trauma and current exploitation. ## Footnote None

Question 28

What is the role of the Self of the Financial Therapist regarding abuse?

Answer 28

Roles include: * Reflect on the definitions of financial abuse * Process any emotions that arise regarding the topics of abuse * Examine places in your own family where financial abuse may have occurred. ## Footnote None

Question 29

Define relational abuse.

Answer 29

Relational abuse refers to harmful behaviors between people in various relationships that can include physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial abuse.

Question 30

What is financial abuse?

Answer 30

Financial or material abuse includes theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.

Question 31

Name five different relationship configurations where abuse may occur.

Answer 31

Abuse can occur between: * Male and female intimate partners * Same-sex intimate partners * Parents and children * Adult children and elderly parents * Siblings

Question 32

What is intimate partner violence (IPV)?

Answer 32

Intimate partner violence refers to abuse occurring between current or former spouses or dating partners, including physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, psychological aggression, and financial abuse.

Question 33

How do 'Big T' trauma and 'Little t' trauma differ?

Answer 33

'Big T' trauma refers to events most people would agree are painful and overwhelming, while 'Little t' trauma is contextual and driven by personal experience, often involving a series of smaller events.

Question 34

List three signs that might indicate financial abuse.

Answer 34

Signs of financial abuse may include: * One person controlling how money is spent or accessed * Taking money without permission * Forcing someone to account for every expense with receipts

Question 35

What are some behaviors a perpetrator might use to restrict a victim's economic independence?

Answer 35

Behaviors include: * Preventing access to transportation * Interfering with employment * Controlling access to bank accounts * Taking paychecks or other income * Demanding explanations for all spending

Question 36

What are five elements of relational assessment that can help identify abuse?

Answer 36

Five elements include: * Marital satisfaction levels * Presence of partner aggression * Ability to express opinions without fear of reprisal * Commitment to partner * Commitment to make changes in the relationship

Question 37

What is the reported prevalence of physical aggression in intimate relationships?

Answer 37

Only 6% of couples initially report physical aggression, yet when asked specifically, 60% report experiencing physically aggressive behaviors in the last year.

Question 38

How might financial trauma form through cross-class experiences?

Answer 38

Financial trauma can form through: * Being teased or ridiculed for one's class background * Moving between social classes * Feeling like an impostor when achieving higher socioeconomic status

Question 39

Explain the connection between financial entitlement and financial abuse.

Answer 39

Entitlement can drive financial exploitation, where someone feels justified in taking or controlling another's resources based on perceived past wrongs.

Question 40

What does the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study reveal about abuse?

Answer 40

The ACE study found that 87% of participants experienced at least one adverse childhood experience, with those having four or more adverse experiences showing significantly worse health outcomes.

Question 41

What percentage of U.S. youth ages 14-17 have been sexually victimized over their lifetime?

Answer 41

28% of U.S. youth ages 14-17 have been sexually victimized over their lifetime.

Question 42

How might financial abuse co-occur with other forms of abuse?

Answer 42

Financial abuse often co-occurs with other forms of abuse as part of a pattern of control, such as physical abuse enforcing financial control.

Question 43

What is the role of a CFT-I™ (with financial background) when encountering abuse?

Answer 43

A CFT-I™ with a financial background should recognize how historical or present abuse impacts financial planning and make appropriate referrals.

Question 44

What is the role of a CFT-I™ (with mental health background) when encountering financial abuse?

Answer 44

A CFT-I™ with a mental health background should recognize financial trauma as a unique form of trauma and assess for financial abuse.

Question 45

Why might financial safety be a prerequisite for effective financial therapy?

Answer 45

Without financial safety, it's difficult to have open, safe, and productive financial conversations.

Question 46

A client insists they control all household finances because their spouse is 'bad with money.' What potential signs of financial abuse should you consider?

Answer 46

Consider whether: * The spouse has access to money for basic needs * The spouse must account for all spending * The controlling partner belittles or shames their spouse about money

Question 47

An elderly client mentions their adult child recently moved in to help care for them and now manages their finances. What assessment questions might help identify potential financial abuse?

Answer 47

Helpful assessment questions include: * Do you still have access to your accounts? * Are your bills being paid on time? * Are you able to spend money on things you need?

Question 48

A client reports avoiding looking at financial statements and feeling physical distress when discussing money. What might this indicate?

Answer 48

These symptoms could indicate financial trauma, possibly from past financial abuse.

Question 49

What is the difference between illegal financial behaviors and improper financial behaviors?

Answer 49

Illegal financial behaviors include theft and fraud, while improper financial behaviors include mismanagement or inappropriate use of funds.

Question 50

Is a CFT-I™ expected to treat relational and financial abuse?

Answer 50

No, a CFT-I™ is not expected to treat these forms of abuse but should recognize and make appropriate referrals.

Question 51

What self-reflection is recommended for financial therapists regarding abuse?

Answer 51

Financial therapists should reflect on their own definitions and understanding of financial abuse and be aware of personal biases.