DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

What’s the difference between normal conflict and domestic violence?

Conflict is part of every intimate relationship–that’s why conflict resolution skills are important. Domestic violence, however, has no place in a healthy relationship, whether the couple is dating, cohabiting, engaged, or married.

What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is any kind of behavior that a person uses, or threatens to use, to control an intimate partner. The two key elements are threat and control. Domestic violence can take various forms:

PHYSICAL – Violent actions such as hitting, beating, pushing, and kicking. In many cases physical abuse becomes more frequent and severe over time.

SEXUAL– Includes any sexual acts that are forced on one partner by the other

PSYCHOLOGICAL – Includes a wide range of behaviors such as intimidation, isolating the victim from friends and family, controlling where the victim goes, making the victim feel guilty or crazy, and making unreasonable demands

EMOTIONAL – Undermining an individual’s self-esteem, constant criticism, insults, put-downs, and name-calling

ECONOMIC – Examples include limiting the victim’s access to family income, preventing the victim from working or forcing the victim to work, destroying the victim’s property, and making all the financial decisions

#NOTODOMESTICVOLIENCE