Sky News
'Trauma bond'
Amber Heard's lawyer Elaine Bredehoft is now asking psychologist Dawn Hughes, an expert witness, how a victim of sexual assault by a partner might act.
"This is one of the myths," Dr Hughes tells the court, that a victim would leave. "Nothing could be further from the truth," she says. Victims "bury it" and try to reach out to the "kind and loving" person they entered the relationship with.
Heard is yet to give her testimony, but Ms Bredehoft told the court during her opening statement that the actress would tell the court she suffered sexual abuse.
What role does "love and normalcy" play in domestic violence in relationships? Ms Bredehoft asks.
In a "lull", the victim is back with the loving partner they wanted in the first place, Dr Hughes says.
Pairing a violent dynamic with the love and attachment creates a "trauma bond, a psychological bond", she says.
This makes it difficult for a victim to leave or even believe that she can and she should, she says.
Asked to describe "love bombing", she says this is showering someone with affection and love - sending flowers, buying gifts, going on trips - which gets people "hooked" on the kindness.
Would a victim yell at a partner? Dr Hughes is asked. "Absolutely."
A victim can be afraid but can also be angry at the same time, she says.
Some will fight back "even though the risk of violence is there", she says.
