What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence is a pattern of assault and controlling behavior including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks and economic control that adults and adolescents use against their intimate partners.
Does your partner...
Does your partner...
- Embarrass or make fun of you in front of your friends and family?
- Put down your accomplishments and goals?
- Make you feel as if you are unable to make decisions?
- Use intimidation or threats to gain compliance?
- Tell you that you are nothing without them?
- Treat you roughly - grab, push, pinch, shove or hit you?
- Call you several times a day or show up to make sure you are where you said that you would be?
- Use drugs or alcohol as an excuse for saying hurtful things or abusing you?
- Blame you for how they feel or act?
- Pressure you sexually for things you aren't ready for?
- Make you feel as if you there "is no way out" of the relationship?
- Prevent you from doing things you want to do such as spending time with your friends or family?
- Try to prevent you from leaving after a fight or leave you somewhere after a fight to "teach you a lesson"?
- Sometimes feel scared of how your partner will act?
- Constantly make excuses to other people for your partner’s behavior?
- Believe you can help your partner change if only you change something about yourself?
- Try not to do anything that will cause conflict or make your partner angry?
- Feel as if no matter what you do, your partner is never happy with you?
- Always do what your partner wants you to do instead of what you want?
- Stay with your partner because you are afraid of what your partner would do if you broke up?
The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children
When children witness repeated acts of violence they are:
- 6 times more likely to commit suicide
- 24 times more likely to commit sexual assaults
- 60 times more likely to commit delinquent behavior
- 100 times more likely to become abusive in relationships