What is Abuse?
Domestic violence, also called intimate partner violence, is a pattern of coercive, controlling behavior in an intimate relationship. The behavior can manifest as abuse that is verbal, emotional, physical, economic, technological, or sexual in nature.
Forms of Abuse
Any use of physical force with the intent to control a partner through fear or injury.
- Restraining
- Object aggression
- Reckless driving
Using words to hurt someone.
- Mocking
- Belittling
- Name calling
- Cursing
- Put downs
Breaking down someone’s self-esteem and/or sense of self.
- Isolation
- Gas lighting/playing head games
- Blaming
- Manipulation & lying
- Jealousy
Taking away a person’s control over their sexual choices. Trying to pressure or force someone to do something sexually that they do not want to do.
The use of technology or social media to intimidate, harass, bully, stalk, or threaten a partner.
Using someone for their money, trying to make someone feel obligated or guilty by buying them things.
Domestic Violence Statistics:
- One in four women and one in seven men in the United States have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
- The most dangerous time for victims of domestic violence is when they leave the relationship.
- Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children.
- Growing up in a home where domestic violence is present is the strongest predictor of a child becoming either a perpetrator or victim of domestic violence later in life.
Does the Person You Love:
- Keep track of you all the time?
- Become excessively jealous?
- Isolate you from your friends and family?
- Call you mean names?
- Grab, slap, kick you, or pull your hair?
- Blame you for everything?
- Force you to have sex against your will?
- Destroy things most important to you?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be a victim of domestic violence. Remember, DVCC is here to support you on your journey to safety.