What if the strictest confinement consists solely of routines, silence, and the term “marriage” rather than physical bars?
Chiraiya looks at how discomfort, pressure, and control can be present in a marriage in ways that aren’t always easy to see. The effects of coercive control illustrate how an individual can perceive themselves differently over time due to continual exposure to limitations, expectations, and the absence of feedback. In his study of coercive control, Stark (2007) found that while the partner of an individual may not use physical abuse to control their partner, they do engage in coercive methods by observing their partner’s behaviour, limiting their ability or opportunity, and applying psychological pressure through their expectations. In this example, what may seem like normal behaviour may actually be harmful.
Read More: Mental Health in Marriage: Legal Rights and Social Realities in India
Power and Control in Daily Life
The series illustrates how the suppressive control functions via the choices an individual makes every day in their day-to-day life (example: how they choose to dress, how they choose to communicate with one another, how they choose to act). Although these choices appear to have little significance when examining them individually, they combine to form a pattern of behaviour that demonstrates exerted dominance and control over another individual. Power-control theory supports this idea, suggesting that control is maintained by repeated behaviours as well as social norms rather than through direct coercion (Hagan et al., 1987). Many marriages exist in systems that adhere to patriarchal traditions, and such behaviour is often considered normal within such marriages.
Research conducted in India demonstrates that many women do not have much decision-making authority or power within their marriages, particularly those women who are economically dependent on their husbands or do not conform to societal expectations (Dutta et al., 2023; Praveen et al., 2025). Over time, these patterns become the norm so that few question them.
Read More: Family Expectations vs Personal Choice in Modern Weddings: A Psychological Perspective
Marital Rape and Consent
Chiraiya brings up the important point that people think marriage means consent. But consent needs to be clear and ongoing. Sexual script theory, which suggests society trains men to take charge and women to be passive in relationships, offers insight into why it’s often overlooked (Gagnon & Simon, 1973). The series depicts Instances of marital rape in which consent is not overtly obtained. Research done in India shows links between depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and long-term emotional upset from these experiences (Agarwal et al., 2022).
Individuals can also experience dissociation, which refers to distancing themselves mentally from an event that may be stressful or traumatising (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). This demonstrates the extent of the psychological impact.
Read More: Gisele Pelicot Case: A Psychological Analysis of Marital Sexual Violence
Why People Stay In Abusive Relationships
It’s common to think that leaving a violent relationship is simple. Yet, the long-term psychological damage and other challenges that arise from an unhealthy or abusive partnership often make that process truly difficult. Learned helplessness is an example of how being in an environment with little control will make it less likely that a person will attempt to get out (Seligman, 1975).
The longer a person stays in an abusive relationship, the more convinced they will become that leaving will have little positive effect on them. Furthermore, the abuse cycle (i.e. a repeating cycle of tension, abuse and reconciliation with the abuser) (Walker, 1979) often creates further confusion for the victim; periods of calm or care can be so confusing when alternating with abuse. A trauma bond occurs when a person develops a strong emotional bond with someone because they have alternated between harm and care from that person (Dutton & Painter, 1993). Research conducted in India indicates that long-term emotional abuse can lead to dependency, confusion, and increase the victim’s difficulty with decision-making, making the process more difficult to leave the abuser (Bandopadhyay et al., 2025).
Read More: Importance of Self-Respect in Relationships
The Role of Society
Society shapes these patterns as well as ourselves according to the Series’ findings. According to Pyke (2010), individuals have also been raised to maintain relationships with one another regardless of the negative effects of this on their mental health. Maintaining relationships despite the personal consequences is indicative of internalised oppression (accepting damaging social views as “normal”).
Questions like “Does your husband let you work?” show that men are often given power. These statements subtly reinforce unequal power. Studies show that men often have to give women permission to do things like work and move around (Praveen et al., 2025). Pluralistic ignorance (the belief that one is alone in their experience because others seem unaffected) (Prentice & Miller, 1993) also makes it less likely that people will speak up.
Boundaries and Who You Are
When people repeatedly cross their personal limits, it changes how they see themselves. This can cause identity erosion, which is the slow loss of one’s sense of self due to constant control or invalidation. Carl Rogers posits that mental well-being is contingent upon the alignment between one’s identity and experiences (Rogers, 1959). This consistency is broken in these kinds of situations. Studies indicate that prolonged emotional abuse results in diminished self-esteem and decreased autonomy (Bandopadhaya et al., 2025).
Awareness and Change
When people grasp that something’s wrong, they can begin making lasting changes. Trauma-informed approaches help individuals see these problems by offering validation, safety, and empowerment (SAMHSA, 2014).
Conclusion
Through portraying the way that control, lack of consent and abuse play out in married life, the show Chiraiya shows how detrimental this type of relationship can be. It also shows how someone’s mental health suffers greatly from this type of treatment, and that suffering in turn makes leaving such a relationship very difficult when you feel helpless and constantly bonded to your abuser.
The abuse within marriage has several influences: individual experience, larger social settings and emotional issues. The series identifies these areas clearly through the way social expectations and the beliefs of the community contribute to this behaviour. In addition, the series illustrates the impact on individual identity and autonomy as a result of continued violations of personal space or boundaries.
Read More: How Web Series Impact our Mental Health?
References +
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