Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Jarrah Deadmon Feburary 5, 2013

What Is Domestic Violence Domestic violence can be defined to include any violence in the home, including between adult children and other adult family members. However, most people use the term to mean any abusive, threatening or violent behavior between one intimate partner and another. Violence or physical abuse directed toward your spouse or domestic partner; usually violence by men against women. Domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another.

Facts about domestic violence • Every year, in the United States there are over 3 million incidents of reported domestic violence. Every year, 4,000 victims of domestic violence are killed. • Nearly one-third of the women who seek care from hospital emergency rooms are there for injuries resulting from domestic violence. • According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 95% of assaults on spouses or ex-spouses are committed by men against women. • Women were attacked about six times more often by offenders with whom they had an intimate relationship than were male violence victims. • During each year women were the victims of more than 4.5 million violent crimes, including approximately 500,000 rapes or other sexual assaults. • In 29 percent of the violent crimes against women by lone offenders the perpetrators were intimates —husbands, former husbands, boyfriends or former boyfriends.

Signs of Domestic Abuse • Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser doesn’t “play fair.” Abusers use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under his or her thumb. Your abuser may also threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you. • Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal abuse to violence. And while physical injury may be the most obvious danger, the emotional and psychological consequences of domestic abuse are also severe. Emotionally abusive relationships can destroy your self-worth, lead to anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone. No one should have to endure this kind of pain—and your first step to breaking free is recognizing that your situation is abusive. Once you acknowledge the reality of the abusive situation, then you can get the help you need.

The only real way to prevent domestic violence is not to get involved with a person who has an abusive personality. How to Prevent Domestic Violence

Types of Abuse • Emotional and /Verbal Abuse : Non-physical behaviors such as threats, insults, constant monitoring or “checking in,” excessive texting, humiliation, intimidation or isolation. • Stalking: Being repeatedly watched, followed or harassed. • Financial Abuse: Using money or access to accounts to exert power and control over a partner. • Physical Abuse: Any intentional use of physical force with the intent to cause fear or injury, like hitting, shoving, biting, strangling, kicking or using a weapon. • Sexual Abuse: Any action that impacts a person's ability to control their sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs, including restricting access to birth control or condoms. • Digital Abuse: The use of technology such as texting and social networking to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate a partner. Often this behavior is a form of verbal or emotional abuse perpetrated through technology.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/23/lane-garrison-ashley-mattingly-security-camera-video-domestic-violence/http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/23/lane-garrison-ashley-mattingly-security-camera-video-domestic-violence/

Domestic Violence