Definition of Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence occurs when one person in the intimate relationship tries to hoard control over the other by using destructive behaviors that may include physical assaults, sexual abuse, stalking and emotional abuse. While victims may be either male or female, most victims of domestic violence are women. The violence may occur constantly or only sporadically.
Other People Are Reading
-
Dominance
-
According to the Violence Wheel created by the Domestic Violence Project, abusers often act like they need to be in complete power, and expect partners to obey their demands without question. They may dictate orders and treat partner as servants.
Emotional Abuse
-
The violence wheel also states that abusers often depreciate their partners' worth by telling insulting jokes, or putting their partners down and making them feel stupid. Abusers often play mind games that destroy self esteem so their partners will not leave them.
-
Isolation
-
Abusers may isolate partners or prevent them from seeing friends and family. This asserts control, and makes the victim more dependent on the abuser for happiness and survival. An abuser may become jealous and mean when she does not get her way.
Threats
-
Abusers may threaten to physically harm their partners children or pets in order to frighten the partner into staying in the relationship. Abusers may also use the children as leverage. Abusers may threaten to commit suicide in order to control their partners.
Intimidation
-
When situations escalate, abusers try to frighten their partners by giving them ferocious looks, destroying important things, or hurting a beloved pet. This is called intimidation.
Economic Abuse
-
The violence wheel states that abusers often prohibit their spouses from working and earning her own money. Partners are forced to have an allowance for spending money.
Denial and Blame
-
Abusers may blame their anger on a bad day or an unhappy childhood. They may apologize and try to minimize the importance of their actions.
-
