What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence, dating abuse, or relationship abuse, is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner in an intimate relationship to maintain power and control over another partner.
Forms of Abuse
Physical
Abuse
An act that causes or threatens bodily harm, including but not limited to, pushing, pinching, hitting, kicking, choking, burning, reckless driving, blocking exits, throwing objects, and attacking with objects/weapons.
Emotional Abuse
Use of actions and words that cause fear. Examples – isolating from others, insulting, demeaning, terrorizing, ignoring or undermining partner’s beliefs, downplaying or mocking partner’s accomplishments or intelligence, threatening to harm oneself if a partner does not comply with demands, instilling guilt and shame in a partner, denying the abuse and gaslighting.
Financial Abuse
Acts that result in financial control of another individual. Examples – limited or no access to money, not allowing the partner to work, stealing from a partner, withholding the partner’s paycheck or funds, and instilling fear in the partner about their expenses.
Stalking
Unwanted and obsessive attention by an individual towards another person. Examples – following in a vehicle, standing outside of work, or home, repeatedly calling a person's phone.
Cyberstalking
Use of the Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual. Examples – sending harassing emails or texts, stalking via social websites, tracking individuals’ online footprints to use for control at a later time, etc.