A Cult of Abuse and Victimization Part 1 of 4

A Cult of Abuse and Victimization;

            The Dysfunctional Inner Circle of the National Park Service (NPS)

Part 1 of 4- Predation, Abuse, and Victimization

Leslie Morgan Steiner, in her book Crazy Love, describes the three steps of victimization in cases of domestic violence: 1) seduction, 2) isolation, and 3) dominance and control.  Also inherent in these cases of domestic violence is manipulation by the predator of the victim’s emotional involvement and commitment to the relationship with the predator. 

In the first step, seduction, the predator seduces the victim by extolling the virtues and importance of the victim in the nascent relationship developing between the victim and the abuser.  Regardless of whether or not this seduction is calculated or is unintentional on the part of the predator, the result is the same-- to disarm the victim with falsified, tacit promises of empowerment and safety for the victim in the developing relationship.  The seduction targets the victim’s trust and willingness to commit to a relationship for the values expressed during the seduction.  What makes this seduction is that the expressed values are deceptions and lies.  

The second step of victimization requires the predator to isolate the victim from family, friends, and any kind of support systems. During this stage, the predator chooses a situation that places himself in situation of complete control and dominance over the victim.

The final step of victimization occurs after the predator has effectively isolated the victim.   Once isolation has been achieved, the predator is free to control and dominate every aspect of a victim’s life.  At this point, the relationship transforms from the seduction-promised values of equality and interdependence to absolute dominance and control of the victim by the predator.  This is typically the setting where domestic violence and abuse occurs.  By this point the victim has been completely disarmed by the lies and deceit of the seduction and rendered emotionally and psychologically powerless by being removed and isolated from any form of advocacy, intervention, or support. 

I am not and would not posit that National Park Service (NPS) management is guilty of inflicting physical violence on NPS staff.  In fact, the NPS has very strong policies to protect all employees from victimization by physical violence.  On the matter of abuse, however, I am of the mind of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who stated: “[i]njustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  If I may paraphrase, I would say:   “justification of abuse at any level is a justification of abuse at every level.”  As horrific as physical abuse is, I would posit that emotional and psychological abuse can be just as damaging to its victims.  The steps for emotional and psychological victimization are identical with the steps that lead to physical violence victimization.  The dividing line between physical abuse and psychological and emotional abuse is purely arbitrary and capricious.  The result of this division is that emotional and psychological abuse is 1000 times more prevalent in our society than physical abuse, and emotional and psychological abuse is at least 1000 time more acceptable in our society than physical abuse.  Within many United States government agencies emotional and psychological abuse is not only acceptable it has become institutionalized.  Nowhere is this problem of predatory and abusive behavior more egregious than in the National Park Service. 

Chad Montreaux

Newell, CA