WhAt IS DOMESTiC ViOLENCE?

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, economic, and emotional/psychological abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence varies dramatically.

Domestic violence is prevalent in every community, and affects all people regardless of age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Physical violence is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior as part of a much larger, systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and even death. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.

CommON TYPES OF ABUSE

Sarcasm is the use of irony to mock or convey contempt. Sarcasm implies to the intentional inflicting of pain by deriding, taunting or ridiculing.

Criticism is the expression of disapproval or someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.

It is hard to battle when sarcasm turns out to be a normal conversation. A regular, but light sarcasm in tone, is the supremacy of many partners. In many cases, it remains undetected due to the frequent occurrence. Constructive criticism is healthy but constant criticism is destructive for your self-esteem. For example – “You have started looking very ugly and fat day by day. Stop eating like animals.”

Name Calling: Speaking with abusive language or insults. The use of abusive names especially to win an argument or to induce rejection or condemnation without objective consideration of the person or facts.

Name-calling is often related to yelling, arguments, or shouting behavior. Use of all kinds of aggressive phrases indicates an unhealthy conversation with the partner. In a healthy relationship, partners talk through the issues without hurting each other, however while in an unhealthy relationship the culprit will keep yelling to their partner until they are satisfied.

Example: “Are you a fool? Why don’t you understand, idiot.”

Manipulation: Manipulation in psychology is a behavior designed to exploit, control, or otherwise influence others to one’s advantage.

The result of manipulation, especially over a sustained period of time – and often with the isolation that abusers also tend to use – is that the victim depends on the abuser more and more because they don’t trust their own judgment. They also hesitate to tell anyone about the abuse they’re experiencing, for fear they won’t be believed or in some cases, they are unaware themselves that the manipulation is taking place. Signs of manipulation include situations such as when your partner is lying to you, blaming you for things & minimizing your feelings. These actions are called "gaslighting" and this is done in order to deny any wrongdoing on their part and to assert control over what you think and what you do. Another and more common form of manipulation is your partner's passive aggressive behavior where one won't voice how they feel, instead they would use avoidance tactics or overly dramatic gestures like loud pouting or sighing to gain concern. More examples of manipulation are threats, withdrawal and isolation. If you're feeling as if you're in a situation in which you may be a victim of manipulation, don't downplay it. Speak up and voice to your partner your feelings paired with examples that contributed to your feelings and then set boundaries.

Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.

1 in 10 women and 1 in 50 men have experienced stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.Women and men who were stalked felt fearful, threatened, or concerned for their safety or the safety of others as a result of the perpetrator’s behavior. If you or someone you know may be experiencing stalking, it is important to first trust your instincts. You are the first person to notice when something doesn't seem right or out of place. If you feel like you're in immediate danger, call your local authorities and explain what is causing you immediate fear. Keep a log of every incident that occurs that make you feel uncomfortable as well as any police reports that are filed. Save evidence, rather it be text messages, phone records, emails or social media postings. For more help, speak with a local service provider or the Victim Connect line at 1-855-4VICTIM.

Threatening: The act of having a hostile or deliberately frightening quality or manner. It is showing the intention to cause bodily harm or causing someone to feel vulnerable or at risk.

Threatening is the most explicit form of violence and belongs to those who consider possessive behavior as their power. Dependent partners are likely to be threatened more than partners who work. Sometimes, the culprit is more cunning while threatening their partner, which is a weapon of convincing. For instance – “If you go, I’ll kill myself today.”

Unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. Most victims and perpetrators know each other.

Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. And every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. Meanwhile, only 25 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison.

Most common long term effects victims tend to experience after sexual assault are depression, flashbacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of sexual abuse, you can reach out to National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The deliberate and unlawful killing of one person by another; murder. A homicide requires only a volitional act or omission that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from accidental, reckless, or negligent acts even if there is no intent to cause harm.

1 in 2 female murder victims and 1 in 13 male murder victims are killed by intimate partners and some 47,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members in 2020. This means that, on average, a woman or girl is killed by someone in her own family every 11 minutes.

Any type of physical violence such as hitting, shoving, or choking can ultimately lead to homicide as can some forms of non physical abuse such as threatening or stalking. It is important that an exit plan from an abusive relationship is in place from the very first physical altercation. Studies show that physical altercations are more likely to escalate rather than "never happen again". After a homicide, further investigation normally reveal other risk factors that were present prior to.

Those living in conditions where intimate partner violence is occurring, it is important to prepare a plan. Reach out to local agencies to help with anonymous housing, financial support and a host of other resources or you can reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

DiD yOU KNOW?

Did you know that nearly 20 people per min are physically abused by a domestic partner?

1 -5

and 1 in 71 men in the United States have been raped in their lifetime.

18-24

Most commonly, young women, are victims.

19.3

million women and 5.1 million men have been stalked in their lifetime.

1-4

women and 1 in 7 men have been vicims of severe physical violence (beating, buring, strangling) by an intimate partner.

20%

A study of intimate partner homicides found that 20% of victims were not the intimate partners themselves but family members, friends, neighbors, persons who interviewed, law enforcement, or bystanders.

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WhAt IS DOMESTiC ViOLENCE?

CommON TYPES OF ABUSE

DiD yOU KNOW?

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