If Love Could Kill

Trauma

Christmas in a Women's Prison: Awakening Unmet Needs

Anna Motz on December 15, 2025

Women are often imprisoned for nonviolent crimes; their pathways into prison reflect high rates of childhood trauma. Ironically, custody can offer them containment and safety.

Women are often imprisoned for nonviolent crimes; their pathways into prison reflect high rates of childhood trauma. Ironically, custody can offer them containment and safety.

Stalking

Stalking, Obsessive Fixations, and Acts of Revenge

Anna Motz on August 25, 2025

When does a jilted lover become an obsessive stalker, fuelled by a desperate wish to see their love object at any cost?

When does a jilted lover become an obsessive stalker, fuelled by a desperate wish to see their love object at any cost?

Punishment

The Psychology of Revenge: From Grievance to Grief

Anna Motz on June 15, 2025

How can we understand the impulse for revenge? What drives it? What allows us to convert the pain of loss, betrayal or injury into mourning and forgiveness rather than revenge?

How can we understand the impulse for revenge? What drives it? What allows us to convert the pain of loss, betrayal or injury into mourning and forgiveness rather than revenge?

Domestic Violence

Women as Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators

Anna Motz on December 13, 2024

Although women are generally viewed as victims of male aggression, they too can be the perpetrators of intimate partner violence. This challenges social stereotypes of women.

Although women are generally viewed as victims of male aggression, they too can be the perpetrators of intimate partner violence. This challenges social stereotypes of women.

Domestic Violence

Coercive Control: Why Don't Women Just Leave?

Anna Motz on November 18, 2024

The reasons for remaining in a violent relationship are complex and can vary. One unifying theme is the belief that leaving is more dangerous than staying.

The reasons for remaining in a violent relationship are complex and can vary. One unifying theme is the belief that leaving is more dangerous than staying.

Self-Harm

Relating to Self-Harm by Incarcerated Women

Anna Motz on October 14, 2024

Rather than viewing self-harm as a suicidal act, it can be a way of staying alive. It can express and contain unbearable states of minds, and communicate what cannot be said.

Rather than viewing self-harm as a suicidal act, it can be a way of staying alive. It can express and contain unbearable states of minds, and communicate what cannot be said.

Domestic Violence

Signs of Intimate Partner Violence: Bruises, Marks, and Scars

Anna Motz on September 29, 2024

Intimate partner violence has complex and toxic dynamics. The dehumanization of victims can include physical violence that leaves visible evidence of harm, pain, and disfigurement.

Intimate partner violence has complex and toxic dynamics. The dehumanization of victims can include physical violence that leaves visible evidence of harm, pain, and disfigurement.

Gaslighting

Coercive Control, Gaslighting, and Recovery

Anna Motz on September 22, 2024

The term gaslighting refers to a pattern of manipulation and control in which an abuser successfully convinces their victim that they are insane. It has devastating consequences.

The term gaslighting refers to a pattern of manipulation and control in which an abuser successfully convinces their victim that they are insane. It has devastating consequences.

Stalking

Dangerous Obsessions: Understanding Erotomania and Stalking

Anna Motz on September 13, 2024

Can we distinguish between romantic love, obsession, limerance and erotomania? Here I describe how intense and delusional "love" leads to stalking and dangerous states of mind.

Can we distinguish between romantic love, obsession, limerance and erotomania? Here I describe how intense and delusional "love" leads to stalking and dangerous states of mind.

Pregnancy

Understanding Infanticide

Anna Motz on September 5, 2024

How could a woman kill her newborn child? What underlying mental health conditions and psychological factors could lead to this crime and can they be treated?

How could a woman kill her newborn child? What underlying mental health conditions and psychological factors could lead to this crime and can they be treated?

Trauma

Trauma Reawakened: Women’s Bodies and Imprisonment

Anna Motz on January 28, 2024

Women's imprisonment can carry many costs, including the loss of their children, employment, and housing. Women may express their psychological distress through physical methods.

Women's imprisonment can carry many costs, including the loss of their children, employment, and housing. Women may express their psychological distress through physical methods.

Sexual Abuse

The Last Taboo: Female Sexual Abuse of Children

Anna Motz on January 6, 2024

The psychological impact of female sexual abuse of children can be intense, yet the prevalence of this crime is greatly underestimated. This phenomenon needs urgent exploration.

The psychological impact of female sexual abuse of children can be intense, yet the prevalence of this crime is greatly underestimated. This phenomenon needs urgent exploration.