IDENTIFICATION WITH THE AGGRESSOR SCALE

FULL DESCRIPTION

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The Identification with the Aggressor Scale (IAS) measures identification with the aggressor (IWA) — a psychological process in which survivors of abuse fuse with, adopt, or internalize their perpetrator's experiences, perspectives, and behaviors (Ferenczi, 1932, 1933; Frankel, 2002).

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Identification with the aggressor is conceptualized as a defense mechanism that emerges in abusive relational contexts. It may involve several facets:

• Adopting the perpetrator’s experience regarding the abuse — internalizing their perspective, emotions, and beliefs

• Identifying with the perpetrator’s aggression — internalizing aggressive tendencies

• Replacing one’s agency with that of the perpetrator — loss of personal desires or acting according to the perpetrator’s wishes

• Becoming hypersensitive to the perpetrator — heightened awareness of their thoughts, feelings, and potential danger
   

Target Population

• Adults (18+) who have experienced abuse in any interpersonal context

• Includes (but not limited to): childhood maltreatment, intimate partner violence, captivity, war-related abuse, or other interpersonal victimization

• Applicable regardless of abuse type, severity, or timing
   

Available Languages

• English

• Hebrew

Korean (translation)