A Powys woman is seeking participants for research into her thesis on narcissism and domestic abuse.

Erica, who is studying a PhD with the Girne University of America, hopes that the research will help change UK law. Speaking to The Brecon and Radnor Express, Erica said: “Narcissistic abuse is massively recognised, but we’ve got a disparity between not only public opinion and the law, but also divorce law and criminal law. In divorce law the bar is set so high that you basically have to be beaten within an inch of your life for it to be considered, whereas in criminal law they will take into account coercive control and a range of other types of abuse.”

Her research taps into how those who are victim of narcissistic abuse often have chronic post traumatic stress disorder, leaving them unable to work or move on with their lives. “My research is about how we can identify it, but also how can we put pressure on legal systems to look after these victims.”

Erica says that criminal law is beginning to support victims of narcissistic abuse, but divorce law needs to change, as it often leaves the woman with nothing. “It fails to take in the trauma and abuse.”

There are some 2.3 million victims of domestic abuse a year aged 16 to 74 (two-thirds of whom are women) and more than one in ten of all offences recorded by the police are domestic abuse related. In the year ending March 2020, an estimated 2.3 million adults aged 16 to 74 years experienced domestic abuse in the last year (1.6 million women and 757,000 men).

Erica needs 100 volunteers to fill out a questionnaire, and participants can remain anonymous. Those with knowledge or experience of this abuse are encouraged to get in touch. To access the questionnaire, participants are asked to contact: [email protected] or [email protected]