IJM ©IAEME: Organisational behaviour of women with PTSD

International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 0976 – MANAGEMENT (IJM)
OF 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 - 6510(Online),
Volume 5, Issue 2, February (2014), pp. 75-89 © IAEME

ISSN 0976-6502 (Print)
ISSN 0976-6510 (Online)
Volume 5, Issue 2, February (2014), pp. 75-89
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ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND PERFORMANCE OF WOMEN
EMPLOYEES WITH PTSD AND ITS EFFECTS ON EMPLOYEE
TURNOVER
Prof. Pooja Mohanty
Assistant Professor, English & Business Communication, School of Management
KIIT University
Prof. Debiprasad Das
Assistant Professor, OB & HR, School of Management
KIIT University

ABSTRACT
In the present era, the role of women in organizational growth is tremendous. But violence
against women has also had a considerable growth. An attempt is made to bridge the research gap
between the psychologically or emotionally tortured women and their organisational behaviour and
performance and to gauge its effects on the turnover of the organization. A person experiencing
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often faces a number of chronic psychological ailments. The
purpose of this study, hence, is to bring about a prolific understanding of the work-productivity of
women employees with PTSD and the impact of such employees’ condition (performance) on the
company turnover. An attempt is also made to find the desired solution to this problem as a step
towards the psychological well-being of working women and thereby to negate its ill effects, if any,
on employee turnover.
Keywords: Organizational Behaviour, PTSD, Women Employees, Performance, Employee
Turnover.
INTRODUCTION
Torture inflicted upon a person, leaves behind a perennial impression on the mind of the
victim. This impression becomes, in the course of time, a part of the sustained system of belief of the
concerned individual and later becomes a compulsive part of the personality of the individual, which
can be cured through certain treatments (Basoglu, Paker, Ozmen, Tasdemir, Sahin, 1994).
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International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 - 6510(Online),

Psychological treatments available for torture survivors include psychodynamic approaches, insight
therapy, testimony method, cognitive therapy, and cognitive –behavioural treatment, etc. (Basoglu
and Aker, 1996). Women, since the early ages, have been continuously subjected to one or the other
type of torture. It is sometimes physical and at other times, emotional or psychological. According to
various studies made, the trauma resulting from the torture takes its toll in multiple aspects of the life
and personality of the concerned. A series of changes take place in the person’s approach to life and
in the perception of the incidents. This rigorous metamorphosis results in Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) (Basoglu et al, 1994; Basoglu and Paker, 1995; Basoglu et al, 1996).This affects
the approach of the victim towards his/her work and life in general. Hence, a proper treatment is
necessary to enable the victim lead a near-normal life (Vesti, Kastrup, 1992; Skylv, 1992; Cooper
and Clum, 1989).
India has the world’s largest number of professionally qualified women in the world. It has
more working women than any other country in the world. This includes female workers at all levels
of skill- from the surgeon and the airline pilot to bus conductors and menial labourers (according to
an E-Review in JBMA, by the Team from Larsen & Tourbo Limited, 2009). Irrespective of the
number of working women, the number of cases relating to torture, whether physical, emotional or
psychological is ample. A number of studies have been made on this since 1980’s. These are carried
out to study the psychological consequences of different types of torture. These studies (Allodi &
Cowgill, 1982; Rasmussen & Lunde, 1980; Kjaersgaard & Genefke, 1977; Cathcart et al., 1979;
Lund et al., 1980; Abildgaard et al., 1984; Domovitch et al., 1984; Peterson et al., 1985; Peterson &
Jacobsen, 1985; Allodi et al., 1985; Hougen et al., 1988; Jensen et al., 1982; Mollica et al., 1987;
Paker et al., 1992; Beebe, 1975; Tennant et al., 1986; Kluznik et al., 1986; Miller et al., 1989) have
brought about a significant exposure to the understanding of the condition of the victims.
Numerous similar studies have been made in this area. Yet, there are still a few questions
unresolved. Is a person under this state of mind, capable of leading a near-normal life and how does
this affect her work-life? Is she capable of carrying out her work properly? If not, what reformatory
step/steps could be taken towards the improvement of the condition she is in?
A research conducted recently found that the Performance of an organization is negatively
and insignificantly associated with employee turnover, workload, work stress (which could be the
result of various factors including PTSD), salary, and family to work conflict. The result of the
research study provided evidences of a negative relationship between the dependent variables of
organizational performance with the Independent variables like, employee turnover, workload, work
stress, salary, family to work conflict, etc., (Tariq, Ramzan and Riaz, 2013).
DEFINITION
Psychological torture
This is the creation of extreme fear in a position of uncontrollability. Physical torture is
almost invariably accompanied by psychological torture, or the experience of extreme fear. Not
infrequently, psychological torture occurs in the absence of physical torture. Examples are threats to
oneself or one’s family, mock executions, sexual verbal assaults, abuse with excrement, forced
nudity.
Psychological torture was extremely wide spread in the 1980s. It can be extremely effective in
causing both short term and long term damage and should not be considered a lesser form of torture
(According to the report, ‘Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace, A report on the disturbances in
Matabeland and the Midlands, 1980-1989, Summary Report).
In 1975, the World Medical Association defined torture as “the deliberate, systematic, or
wanton infliction of physical and mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone or on the

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orders of any authority to force another person to yield information, to make a confession, or for any
other reason” (Basoglu, Marks, 1988).
In the Article 1of the Declaration on the elimination of violence against women in UN
General Assembly resolution 48/104 of December, 1993, the meaning of the term, "violence against
women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical,
sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or
arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life (United Nations,
General assembly, Distr. Generasl, A/RES/48/104, 23 February 1994).
The meaning of torture is anguish of body or mind; the infliction of intense pain or to punish;
coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure. With time, the definition of torture has also undergone refinement.
• The physical and mental suffering deliberately inflicted upon a human being by any other
human being.
• The infliction of suffering, upon anyone for any purpose- or for no purpose (Kanchan, Mohan
Kumar, Pradeep Kumar, and Yoganarasimha, 2007).
The Tokyo Declaration of the World Medical Association in 1975, defined torture in
relation to detention and prison as “the deliberate or intentional systematic wanton infliction of
physical of mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone, or on the orders of any authority,
to force another person to yield information, to make a confession, or for any reason”. (Kanchan,
Mohan Kumar, Pradeep Kumar, and Yoganarasimha, 2007).
TYPES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE
Psychological torture could be of many types. For example, the war-victims are forced to
undergo several activities which account for a serious mental turbulence. The following are some
such methods adopted by the tormentors for the purpose.
1. Deprivation techniques comprises of
Sensory Deprivation- victim is hooded or blindfolded and kept in dark room for long time.
Perceptual Deprivation- Victim is blindfolded and frequently transferred from one place to another
Social Deprivation- Solitary confinement in a dark environment.
Deprivation of basic needs- Withholding food, water, toilet facilities, sleep, clothing etc.
2. Coercion techniques
The victim is compelled or coerced to perform or to witness actions that cause mental
anguish.
3. Threats and humiliation
Direct threat, or threat directed towards family members, relatives, friends etc. along with
humiliation.
4. Communication techniques
The victim is mentally tortured by giving a variety of confusing, contradicting and false
information regarding tragedy involving close relatives. (Kanchan, Mohan Kumar, Pradeep Kumar,
and Yoganarasimha, 2007).
From another study we can perceive psychological ill-treatment, as "death or mutilation
threats", "false accusations", blackmail or light threat", "forcing to humiliating behaviour", etc.,
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watching others being tortured, "death or mutilation threats against the family, friends or colleagues",
"being detained in prison with tortured persons", "forcing to watch or listen to torture or killing of
others"), deprivation of basic life resources like, "food and water deprivation", "normal sleep
deprivation", "deprivation of medical care or drugs", (Jovic and Opacic, 2003)
DOMESTIC TORTURE
Women are often in great danger in the place where they should be safest, that is, within their
families. For many, ‘home’ is where they face a regime of terror and violence at the hands of
somebody close to them – somebody they should be able to trust. Those victimized suffer physically
and psychologically. They are unable to make their own decisions, voice their own opinions or
protect themselves and their children for fear of further repercussions. Their human rights are denied
and their lives are stolen from them by the ever-present threat of violence (Mehr Khan, in a report of
UNICEF, Innocenti Digest, 2000). Further, it defines domestic violence as, “violence by an intimate
partner and by other family members, wherever this violence takes place and in whatever form.”
Domestic Violence against Women
Industrialized Countries
Canada
_ 29% of women (a nationally representative sample of 12,300 women) reported being physically
assaulted by a current or former partner since the age of 16.
Japan
_ 59% of 796 women surveyed in 1993 reported being physically abused by their partner.
New Zealand
_ 20% of 314 women surveyed reported being hit or physically abused by a male partner.
Switzerland
_ 20% of 1,500 women reported being physically assaulted according to a 1997 survey.
United Kingdom
_ 25% of women (a random sample of women from one district) had been punched or slapped by a
partner or ex-partner in their lifetime.
United States
_ 28% of women (a nationally representative sample of women) reported at least one episode of
physical violence from their partner.
Asia and the Pacific
Cambodia
_ 16% of women (a nationally representative sample of women) reported being physically abused by
a spouse; 8% report being injured.
India
_ Up to 45% of married men acknowledged physically abusing their wives, according to a 1996
survey of 6,902 men in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Korea
_ 38% of wives reported being physically abused by their spouse, based on a survey of a random
sample of women.
Thailand
_ 20% of husbands (a representative sample of 619 husbands) acknowledged physically abusing their
wives at least once in their marriage.
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Middle East
Egypt
_ 35% of women (a nationally representative sample of women) reported being beaten by their
husband at some point in their marriage.
Israel
_ 32% of women reported at least one episode of physical abuse by their partner and 30% report
sexual coercion by their husbands in the previous year, according to a 1997 survey of 1,826 Arab
women.
Africa
Kenya
_ 42% of 612 women surveyed in one district reported having been beaten by a partner; of those 58%
reported that they were beaten often or sometimes.
Uganda
_ 41% of women reported being beaten or physically harmed by a partner; 41% of men reported
beating their partner (representative sample of women and their partners in two districts).
Zimbabwe
_ 32% of 966 women in one province reported physical abuse by a family or household member
since the age of 16, according to a 1996 survey.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Chile
_ 26% of women (representative sample of women from Santiago) reported at least one episode of
violence by a partner, 11% reported at least one episode of severe violence and 15% of women
reported at least one episode of less severe violence.
Colombia
_ 19% of 6,097 women surveyed have been physically assaulted by their partner in their lifetime.
Mexico
_ 30% of 650 women surveyed in Guadalajara reported at least one episode of physical violence by a
partner; 13% reported physical violence within the previous year, according to a 1997 report.
Nicaragua
_ 52% of women (representative sample of women in León) reported being physically abused by a
partner at least once; 27% reported physical abuse in the previous year, according to a 1996 report.
Central and Eastern Europe/CIS/Baltic States
Estonia
_ 29% of women aged 18-24 fear domestic violence, and the share rises with age, affecting 52% of
women 65 or older, according to a 1994 survey of 2,315 women.
Poland
_ 60% of divorced women surveyed in 1993 by the Centre for the Examination of Public Opinion
reported having been hit at least once by their ex-husbands; an additional 25% reported repeated
violence.
Russia (St. Petersburg)
_ 25% of girls (and 11% of boys) reported unwanted sexual contact, according to a survey of 174
boys and 172 girls in grade 10 (aged 14-17).
Tajikistan
_ 23% of 550 women aged 18-40 reported physical abuse, according to a survey.

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(Adapted from “Violence Against Women,” WHO, FRH/WHD/97.8, “Women in Transition,”
Regional Monitoring Report, UNICEF 1999, and a study by Domestic Violence Research Centre,
Japan.)
EFFECTS OF TORTURE ON WOMEN
1. Symptoms and Consequences of torture:
There are 121 different types of post-traumatic disorders: 72 types of physical, 41 types of
psychological and 8 types of social economical after-effects of torture. All the interviewees
experienced both physical and psychological post-traumatic effects (100%), and socioeconomic
effects (70%) (This is derived from a checklist, Torture: the Grave of Human Rights, written by
KRCT, Hangyeorae Publishing: Seoul, 2004, p.143, 149. This checklist was originally derived from
the Istanbul Protocol and the books published by the IRCT in 1992, 1995, 1997, International
Rehabilitation Council of Torture Victims. (Report prepared by KRTC by Byun, Kim and Jo, 2005).
According to various other studies, the psychological symptoms of the torture-victims have
multi-dimensional existence. (Agger and Jensen, 1990). These have been amply documented. These
include psychosomatic symptoms like, pain, nervousness, insomnia, nightmare, tremor, weakness,
fainting, sweating, diarrhoea, etc., behavioural changes like, withdrawal, suspiciousness, irritability,
aggressiveness, impulsiveness, suicidal tendencies, depression, phobia, etc., and cognitive
impairment like confusion, disorientation, memory defects, loss of concentration, etc.( Allodi &
Cowgill, 1982). Similar studies were made by Rasmussen & Launde, 1980; Launde, 1982;
Domovitch et al., 1984, etc. Another study (Basoglu, 1984) also depicts symptoms like, feelings of
defeat, helplessness, hopelessness and ultimately depression. According to this study, there could be
irritability, generalized anxiety, and sleep disturbance, outbursts of hostility and aggressive
behaviour, and aggravated condition of the depressed mood (Falcon, Ryan and Chamberlain, 1985).
According to another study, depending on type method and duration of torture, outcome can
vary from mild to severe physical, psychological and social trauma. Physical consequences can be
early or delayed in form of severe pain, haemorrhage, infection, scars, mutilation, disfiguration etc.
(Basoglu, M. Paker, O. Paker, Ozmen, Marks, Incesu, Sahin, Sarimurat, 1994). Psychological
consequences include anxiety, depression, phobia, sleep disturbances, alcohol/ drug abuse, post
traumatic stress disorders, suicidal tendencies etc. ( Basoglu et al., 1994) Social consequences are
related to social stigma, unemployment, negativity in social activities etc. (Kanchan, M. Kumar, P.
Kumar, and Yoganarasimha, 2007).
Irrespective of who the victim is, the consequences have to be similar. Rather those could be
more intense when the victim is a woman with dual responsibilities of family, as well as, job. Similar
types of torture, especially domestic, when inflicted upon women, the effects or the trauma caused by
it play havocs on the organizational behaviour and performance of working women. This is more
because, if the victim is exposed to the external environment before adequate treatment (Basoglu,
1992; Falcon, Ryan and Chamberlain, 1985), and carrying with her, her own changed perception of
the events, the consequences are aggravated (Lindy et al., 1983; Horowitz et al., 1984). This can be
treated through several psychological therapies (Marks, 1987; Gelder, Marks and Wolff, 1967;
Marks, 1985; Marks, 1988). Irrespective of the organization the victim is working with and the kind
of job she is into, she encounters a chain of undesirable consequences. Performance suffers at the
cost of psychic imprisonment. Mobility and flexibility of thought and understanding are paralysed
and everything seems ambiguous to the victim. Decision-making ability is also tainted. And hence,
these repercussions could be many-folded.
Psychological torture on women could be of several forms. It could be domestic abuse or
spousal abuse (occurs when one of the partners tries to subjugate the other partner in the relationship
by using tactics like fear, intimidation, humiliation, blames or threats. The abuser may use any of
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these tricks, in order to gain absolute command over the relationship, and manipulate it to suit his
needs) (Porcerelli, Patricia,West, Binienda, and Cogan, 2006); it could be external, that is, eveteasing, negative criticisms, persisting fear of personal security of women, etc. (Allodi F., Randall,
G.R., Lutz, E.L., 1985).This happens most often in the work place. All this affects the performance
of an individual to a large extent. When women are forced to live in this atmosphere for long, a
considerable change takes place in their perception and there by, in their personality resulting in
increased ratio of absenteeism and poor performance in the organization.
2. Effects of domestic torture on women
The table below shows the different types of violence against women throughout the life
cycle (Table 1).

Phase

Table 1 - Examples of Violence against Women throughout the Life Cycle
Type of violence

Pre birth

Sex-selective abortion; effects of battering during pregnancy on
birth outcomes

Infancy

Sex-selective abortion; effects of battering during pregnancy on birth
outcomes

Girlhood

Child marriage; female genital mutilation; physical, sexual and
psychological abuse; incest; child prostitution and pornography

Adolescence and
Adulthood

Dating and courtship violence (e.g. acid throwing and date rape)
economically coerced sex (e.g. school girls having sex with “sugar
daddies” in return for school fees); incest; sexual abuse in the
workplace; rape; sexual harassment; forced prostitution and
pornography; trafficking in women; partner violence; marital rape;
dowry abuse and murders; partner homicide; psychological abuse;
abuse of women with disabilities; forced pregnancy.

Elderly

Forced “suicide” or homicide of widows for economic reasons; sexual,
physical and psychological abuse.

(Source: “Violence Against Women”, WHO., FRH/WHD/97.8)

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Table 2 - Health Consequences of Violence against Women
NON-FATAL OUTCOMES
Physical health outcomes:
• Injury (from lacerations to fractures
and internal organs injury)
• Unwanted pregnancy
• Gynaecological problems
• STDs including HIV/AIDS
• Miscarriage
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Headaches
• Permanent disabilities
• Asthma
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Self-injurious behaviours
(smoking, unprotected sex)
Mental health outcomes:
• Depression
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Sexual dysfunction
• Eating problems
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
FATAL OUTCOMES
• Suicide
• Homicide
• Maternal mortality
• HIV/AIDS
(Source: “Violence against Women”, WHO Consultation, 1996)
The above tables clearly exhibit the consequences of torture on women. The effect of the
violence, whether physical or psychological, gives rise to a series of imbalanced circumstances in the
victim’s everyday life. It is evident that such a person would not be able to perform the way she
could have performed in the normal conditions. Hence, this study has been made as an attempt to
trace the different consequences a person could face as a result of torture and abuse.
In yet another study, to investigate the impact of purely psychological torture, Metin Basoglu
of King's College London, UK, and colleagues surveyed 279 survivors of torture from the former
Yugoslavia. Between 2000 and 2002 the survivors answered questions about the nature of the torture
they endured. The majority of them had endured beating and other forms of physical torture,
including electric shocks, tooth extractions and suffocation. But about 20 of the survivors
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experienced purely psychological manipulations, such as sham executions or the torturing of family
members and threats of rape. The researchers collected medical assessments of whether the torture
survivors showed signs of PTSD - a form of lasting anxiety. They found no difference in the
prevalence of this disorder between the two groups.
Basoglu says the findings challenge the common perception that psychological torture is less
distressing than physical torture. "Implicit in this distinction is a difference in the distressing nature
of the events. The evidence takes issue with that," he says. "And since psychological torture is as bad
as physical torture, we shouldn't use it." (Khasmi, 2007).
The findings chime with previous work, say others. "The conclusions are completely
consistent with what those subjected to these draconian practices have reported," Rubenstein says.
He points out that US Senator John McCain, who experienced torture as a prisoner of war in
Vietnam, has said that if he were forced to make a decision between enduring psychological or
physical torture, he would not hesitate to pick the latter (Khamsi, 2007). "Torture generates
extremely bad intelligence data" and is "enormously counterproductive", according to bioethicist
Steven Miles at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, US (Khamsi, 2007). Hence, it holds
clarity that the torturer does not necessarily gain out of the act of torturing the victim.
3. Organisational behaviour and performance of psychologically tortured women
Women have shown a similar vigour and enthusiasm in their work-life as men. Their
performance has also been akin to that of men. Several researches have already been carried out in
the arena of similarities and differences between men and women employees in an organization. The
question, now in context, is not a comparison between men and women employees. Rather, it is a
study made to bring into the forefront the behaviour and performance of those working women who
are the victims of torture. It is evident that a woman with PTSD finds it extremely difficult to
manage the episodes of both her personal, as well as, organizational behaviour. Her behaviour, hence
performance, would not tally with that of the non-PTSD women. Hence, treatment of the same
becomes inevitable (Marks, 1987; Basoglu and Aker, 1990).
A study made by Mckinsey & Company shows that women are better organizational and
financial managers than men. After an extensive work on relationship between organization and
financial performance and on the number of women who are managers at different companies,
Mckinsey has found, first, that the companies around the world with the highest scores on nine
important dimensions of organization—from leadership and direction to accountability and
motivation—are likely to have higher operating margins than their lower-ranked counterparts do
(Table 3).
Table 3

(Source: A Business Case for Women; The Mckinsey Quarterly, 2008)
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Second, among the companies for which information on the gender of senior managers was
available, six, which had three or more women on their senior-management teams scored higher on
all nine organizational criteria than did companies with no senior-level women (Table 4) (Desvaux,
Devillard-Hoellinger, and Meaney, 2008).
Table 4

(Source: A Business Case for Women; The Mckinsey Quarterly, 2008)
These findings suggest that companies with higher numbers of women at senior levels are
also companies with better organizational and financial performance. Although the analysis does not
show a causal link, the research argues for greater gender diversity among corporate leaders
(Desvaux, Devillard-Hoellinger, Meaney, 2008).
Desvaux, Devillard-Hoellinger & Meaney have drawn the conclusion from the study that
companies will be able to draw from a broader pool of talent in an era of talent shortages. This
research shows a correlation between high numbers of female senior executives and stronger
financial performance. Hence, it is evident that women in business, in the present era, are
indispensable.
In yet another study, it was found that businesses headed by women were not more likely to
go out of business, nor less successful than those owned by men. A company's age was positively
related to its survival regardless of the gender of its owner-operator. Size was unrelated to survival.
There were no differences in earnings growth between businesses headed by men and those headed
by women (Kalleberg, Leicht, 1991).
On the other hand, ethical decision making is affected by many individual factors, and in
particular, many studies report sex differences in ethicality (Loe et al., 2000; Jawahar, and Hemmasi,
2006). Women’s moral development and ways of reasoning are fundamentally different from those
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of men and are more dependent on ethical understanding (Gilligan, 1982). A subsequent research
stream abides by the belief that women are more likely than men to view certain questionable acts as
unethical (Konovsky and Jaster, 1989), as well as, less willing to behave unethically (Beu et al.,
2003; Thoursie, 2007). Other studies (Cox and Nkomo, 1990) suggest that there are no ethical
differences between males and females. These varying findings have generated considerable debate
and speculation (Valentine, Godkin, Page and Rittenberg, 2009). However, it is quite evident that
women play a very vital role in an organization (Youssef and Luthans, 2007). But when a working
woman is under the effects of PTSD, the desired performance cannot be achieved because of the
various facets of trauma the victim is compelled to undergo (Basoglu et al., 1996). All those
symptoms of torture can be traced in this person as well. And a person carrying these symptoms,
obviously, cannot concentrate and be as productive as a non-PTSD person (Basoglu et al., 1996).
TREATMENT
When treatment is taken into consideration, another factor comes into the scenario, that is, the
psychological well-being of women. The survivors of torture often have a combination of social,
psychological and medical problems which require a multi-disciplinary approach that would involve
social, legal, psychological and medical help. Among these problems, traumatic stress reactions are
particularly important because these can cause severe psychological disability that might last
decades, or even a lifetime, if left untreated (Basoglu and Aker, 1996). Psychological treatments
available for survivors include psychodynamic approaches, insight therapy, testimony method,
cognitive therapy, and cognitive-behavioural treatment. Behavioural therapy is based on the principle
that prolonged imaginable or live-exposure to an anxiety- evoking situation reduces anxiety
(Somnier, Vesti, Kastrup and Genefke, 1992; Basoglu and Aker, 1996). It has been demonstrated in
controlled studies that behavioural treatments are of great efficacy in combat-related post traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Cognitive behavioural treatment can also be of great help for the treatment of
torture survivors. From a few studies it has been found that this approach of treatment can be
effective in reducing torture-related traumatic stress responses (Skylv, 1992; Bustos, 1992; Basoglu
et al., 1996).
Various methods of treatment are involved in the process of treatment of PTSD and so, it has
become easier to help the victims lead a normal, healthy and fruitful life.
Psychotherapy often involves cognitive interventions to help the survivor to leave the ‘victim
role’ induced by the traumatic experience. This can be seen as helping the survivor regain a sense of
control over the trauma, as well as, current environmental events (Basoglu, 1992; Basoglu et
al.,1996; Agger and Jensen, 1990). Treatment is inevitable when the question of organizational and
societal growth is in context. Women play a vital role in the present era, in any organization or
society in general. And hence, treatment of any psychological problem is of pivotal importance (Loe
et al., 2000; O’Fallon and Butterfield, 2005). And although social support is also important, there is
quite a lot of evidence that even social support may not be of much use unless the individual is
psychologically healthy enough to be able to access and use it properly (Caroll, Rueger, Foy and
Donahoe, 1985; Bustos, 1992; Basoglu et al., 1996). This inevitably would result in poor women
employee turnover and further resulting in poor overall retaining of women employees and finally
contributing weakly towards the overall employee turnover and productivity of the organization.
CONCLUSION
Torture, whether physical or psychological, results in a great deal of psychological
turbulence. It destroys a person’s personality and remains with the person for a reasonably longer
period than perceived. Torture in any form is unacceptable in any civilized society. Though
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considerable steps have been taken towards the eradication of this social evil, yet, to make the
society completely torture-free is a huge challenge for mankind. It has become a matter of concern,
even more, when there has been a considerable growth of working women in the new era. Women
contribute equally as men towards the development of the social, economical, and political attributes
of any country. And when a working woman is tortured, and subsequently develops PTSD and other
forms of torture-symptoms, performance and productivity in the organization she works with,
suffers. Whereas business and society might not always treat women fairly, women should take a
lead role in the process of elimination of this social evil and in the treatment of psychological
disorders of torture victims. The responsibility becomes higher in case of women working in
positions of authority.
Encouraging people to help abolish this evil, and motivating women to take adequate steps
against it becomes inevitable. Reasonable endeavour, if made towards the treatment of PTSD of the
working women, there would be a huge change and development in the business and society. In
short, women should be treated as valuable and indispensable in the organization and society in
general, so that, the nation reaps the reward of great societal and organizational productivity due to
better employee turnover at the hands of its women, and business accompanying peace takes a surge.
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