Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors where one partner uses physical, verbal and emotional abuse to control the other partner.
Physical abuse can include:
- Punching
- Hitting
- Hair pulling
- Biting
- Use of weapons
- Denying victim food, water, access to family, friends, law enforcement
Verbal/Emotional abuse can include:
- Constant criticism, name calling
- Threats of violence to victim or other loved ones, including pets
- Destroying property
Victims and their abusers cannot be stereotyped. Abuse in intimate relationships has nothing to do with race, religion, gender or financial status. Victims can be male or female, young, old, rich or poor. The one thing they do have in common is low esteem and the belief that they can change their abuser.