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Learn About What Domestic Violence Is
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior that may be physical, sexual, psychological or some combination of any of these. These behaviors are intended to punish, abuse, and ultimately control the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of the victim. Although usually targeted toward a partner, abusive behavior harms everyone in the family. Over time, and without intervention, abusive behavior increases in frequency and severity. Later incidents of domestic violence often involve weapons and may end in tragedy or death.
Over time, and without intervention, abusive behavior increases in frequency and severity.
Who Might be a Victim?
It is commonly assumed that domestic abuse is found only in certain classes or groups of people. While it is true that domestic violence is mostly a crime perpetrated by men against women (95% of violence done to women is done by men) no other generalizations may accurately be made. In our society, women of all classes, ages, races, and educational backgrounds can become victims of such violence.
Women of all classes, ages, races, education backgrounds can become victims of violence.
Why Does it Happen?
Abusive behavior is learned behavior. Even when not physically abused, children who observe family violence are emotionally abused children. They may grow up thinking of violence as a way to solve problems. They tend to repeat or to accept the violent behaviors they have observed and they may become the next generation of abusers and victims.
Abusive behavior is learned behavior.
Watch for These Signs of Domestic Violence
Does your partner?:
- Insult you in public and/or in private?
- Check up on where you have been and/or who you have talked to?
- Put down your friends and/or family?
- Tell you jealousy is a sign of love?
- Blame you for the abuse?
- Limit where you go and what you do?
- Try to control your money?
- Destroy your things?
- Threaten to hurt you, your family, and/or pets?
- Make you have sex in ways or at times that are uncomfortable to you?
- Touch you in ways that hurt or scare you?
- Tell you your fears and/or feelings are not important?
If any of these things happen to you, you might be in danger.
