What Are the Causes of an Abusive Relationship?

Abusive Relationships

Abusive relationships exist because of the psychological makeup of both parties involved, not just the abuser. Abuse can take any of three forms: emotional, physical or sexual. Relationships become abusive for several reasons.

Bottom Line

An abuser seeks to make his partner feel inferior in order to make himself feel better. By demeaning a partner, the abuser feels superior to someone.

Past Abuse

The abuser is driven by deep feelings of shame and inadequacy, often caused by emotional trauma experienced during his childhood.

Drugs and Alcohol

Drug and alcohol abuse also are major contributors to abusive relationships, on the part of both the abuser and the victim.

Victim

Often victims stay in abusive relationships because they were abused as children. The victim usually suffers from very low self-esteem.

Signs

Major warning signs that a partner is abusive include extreme jealousy, isolating the other partner from friends and family, prior bad relationships, blaming the other partner for their own failures, and telling the victim that the abuse is her fault.

References

• About Abusive Relationships
• Surviving Abuse