What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors in an intimate relationship where one partner wants to have full power and control over the other.
- It can occur in relationships where the parties involved are living or not living together; married, divorced, separated, or dating; have children or don’t have children; are of any sexual orientation; are adults, children, elderly or/and disabled.
- Domestic Violence happens in all types of homes to all kinds of people, regardless of age, race, education, or economic status.
Different Forms Of Abuse:
Physical Abuse
Physical Abuse is intentionally causing any bodily harm or pain to another.
Physical Abuse Can Include:- Hitting/Punching/Slapping/Kicking
- Pushing/Pulling/Grabbing
- Restraining/Holding/Choking
- Biting/Scratching/Poking
- Hair Pulling
- Damaging/Destroying Property
- Harming With Weapons
- Throwing Items At You
- Reckless Driving
- Force Feeding Or Starving You
- Preventing You From Leaving
- Preventing Medical Care
- Withholding Your Medications
Emotional Abuse
Emotional Abuse is intentional infliction of emotional pain or fear upon another.
Emotional Abuse Can Include:- Creating Double Standards
- Isolating You From Family/Friends
- Telling You How You Think And Feel
- Avoiding Resolving Issues
- Petty/Immature Behavior
- Discrediting Behaviors And Emotions
- Creating Inequity In Partnership
- Questioning Paternity Or Faithfulness
- Stalking/Harassing
- Threating Or Intimidating Behaviors
- Threatening Suicide
- Love Bombing
- Lying/Deceitfulness
- Gaslighting
Financial Abuse
Financial Abuse is having full control of someone’s finances.
Financial Abuse Can Include:- Taking or Withholding Your Money
- Denying You the Opportunity to Earn Money
- Damaging Your Credit Score
- Preventing You From Getting/Keeping a Job
- Restricting Access to Financial Accounts
- Not Paying Bills They Are Responsible For
- Overspending Mutual Funds
Verbal Abuse
Verbal Abuse is any intentional use of verbal attacks to cause emotional pain to another.
Verbal Abuse Can Include:- Making Degrading/Demeaning Comments
- Making Demands
- Swearing/Yelling/Harassing
- Threatening To Take Children Away
- Placing Blame On You
- Using Confidential Information Against You
- Using Guilt-Producing Statements
- Using A Threatening Tone Of Voice
- Interrogating/Irrational Questioning
- Twisting Your Words
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Abuse is any sexual activity that occurs without consent.
Sexual Abuse Can Include:- Rape – Nonconsensual Intercourse
- Forced Sodomy (Oral or Anal Sex)
- Unwanted Sexual Touching
- Forced Object Penetration
- Incest – Sex Between Family
- Marital Rape
- Sexual Coercion
- Sexual Contact While Impaired
- Sex Trafficking
- Solicitation Of Minors
- Sexual Contact With Minors
- Possession Of Child Pornography
Power & Control Wheel
The wheel serves as a diagram of tactics that an abusive partner uses to keep their victims in a relationship. The inside of the wheel is made up of subtle, continual behaviors over time, while the outer ring represents Physical and Sexual Violence.
Abusive actions like those depicted in the outer ring often reinforce the regular use of other, more subtle methods found in the inner ring.
