Battering is also known by the term "domestic violence" and refers to acts of violence between two parties in an intimate relationship. Battering happens in heterosexual and homosexual relationships and either a male or a female can be the batterer or victim. Battering may occur in a marriage or in any other form of relationship.

Batter Definition

Battering is defined as an abusive act between two people and is never okay. Battering often coincides with psychological and sexual abuse.¹

• 1.5 million intimate partner rapes and physical assaults occur yearly against women
• 800,000 intimate partner rapes and physical assaults occur yearly against men

What is the Danger of Battering?

Battering is typically not a one-time event. Victims are normally battered many times by the same person. A 2000 survey showed that women are typically battered 6.9 times and men are battered 4.4 times by the same person.

Moreover, the level of violence tends to increase as the battering continues. What may start out as a slap or a push may escalate into beating or worse. While most incidences of battering are at the less severe end of the scale, battering can, and does, sometimes result in death.

• In 2002, approximately 11% of homicide victims will killed by an intimate partner – three-quarters of these being women

Children who witness the battering are also at great risk even if they, themselves, are not the victims of the physical violence. Girls who witness battering are more likely to grow up and be in battering relationships and boys are more likely to grow up into batterers themselves. (read Effects of Domestic Violence on Women and Children)

Battering also puts the victim at a major risk of homelessness with one study indicating that half of homeless women were fleeing batterers. In spite of the safety nets put in place, like battered women shelters and social services, battering victims still often find that they have nowhere to go. This may also result in them needing to leave the children with the batterers as they have no place to house their children.

Who Gets Battered?

Any man or woman in a relationship can be battered and batterers can come from any religious, racial or socioeconomic group. Women are at greater risk with women between the ages of 16 and 24 being at the highest risk in terms of age. (see Teenage Dating Violence) Additionally, the greater the difference in age between the wife and the husband, the greater the risk of battering escalating into homicide.

Pregnant women are also at high risk of battering. It may be the case that during this time their partner feels displaced in importance and so the battering increases. Four to eight percent of pregnant woman report being abused at least once during pregnancy. This can result in pregnancy complications and even the death of the fetus. A study in Maryland found that homicide was the leading cause of death among pregnant women, whereas, for non-pregnant women, it was the fifth leading cause.

article references

What causes wife battering? Why would someone beat their wife?

Battered wives are often from homes where they are taught to be compliant and not voice their concerns and this leads them into a similar adult relationship. Men who have been in homes where wife battering occurred as children are more likely to grow up into wife batterers themselves.

Wife battering is a huge problem in the United States with millions of cases of battering occurring yearly, although one doesn't have to be married to be a victim of battering. Same-sex couples can also experience battering. A battered wife can be of any race, socioeconomic status or educational background – anyone can be a victim of wife beating. (Wondering if you're a victim of wife battering. Take the Battered Woman Test.)

Causes of Wife Battering

As wife battering is an organic behavior, there is no direct cause. No wife or any situation can cause a person to beat another. It's important to understand this, as victims often blame themselves for being battered when it is never their fault – no matter what the batterer says.

Within a relationship, though, there is typically a pattern to wife battering (read Cycle of Violence and Abuse). The phases are typically:¹

• A tension building phase
• A wife battering episode
• A "honeymoon" phase where there is a respite

During the tension building phase, the wife often "walks on eggshells" around her batterer and is aware of the fact that the tension is building. Little things may make the batterer mad such as a meal he doesn't like or his wife being late. These minor infractions produce unreasonable tension in the relationship.

This tension eventually explodes in an acute wife battering episode. The battering may be a more minor push or slap or may be a major beating leading to broken bones or worse. The batterer may prevent the victim from receiving healthcare for their injuries and threaten the victim or others if the victim threatens to tell anyone about the abuse.

Once the acute battering is over, the batterer often tries to charm his way out of what has happened; promising to never to do it again and attempting to make amends by doing things like buying flowers and being extra attentive. Typically though, the wife batterer has no intention of stopping and is simply trying to manipulate the victim into not telling others, believing "it's not that bad," and that it's "all in her head."

Why Does a Battered Wife Stay?

A battered wife may stay in a relationship for a variety of reasons. Battered wives often:

• Feel the abuse isn't "real, " or "isn't that bad"
• Think they can change the abuser (Help for Batterers)
• Believe it will never happen again
• Believe that help won't work or that no one will believe them or that they deserve the abuse
• Don't want to break up a family
• Stay with a batterer because she feels sorry for him as he often comes from a history containing abuse
• Are economically and psychologically dependent on the batterer
• Are afraid to leave
• Are afraid for the welfare of others (like their children)

But, of course, any level of wife battering is not okay and any wife who has suffered battering should get help for it immediately.

Persuading a Battered Wife to Leave

Often convincing a battered wife to leave their batterer is about convincing them that their false thoughts about the abuse are wrong. For example,

• "Just because he only hit you once, that doesn't make it okay. Once is one too many times."
• "You cannot change someone else; only they can choose to change themselves."

In addition, a battered wife often also needs someplace to go, such as a friend's house or a battered women's shelter. Taking care of the needs and safety of the wife as well as any children, and sometimes pets (which may also be abused), involved in the situation can help a woman decide to leave her batterer.

It's important to be non-blaming and non-judgmental in any scenario of wife battering, as the victims often already feel guilty and more guilt may make them believe that they deserve the abuse. This may make them even more reluctant to leave their wife batterer.

article references

Battered wife syndrome has been defined in different ways historically, but according to the 8th edition of Mosby's Medical Dictionary, battered wife syndrome is defined as,¹

"repeated episodes of physical assault on a woman by the person with whom she lives or with whom she has a relationship, often resulting in serious physical and psychological damage to the woman. . ."

These repeated assaults (battering) begin to change how a woman thinks about herself and life leading to a state of learned helplessness – wherein a wife believes that no matter what she does, the battering will not stop. Women suffering from battered woman syndrome often believe that the abuse is their fault and that they deserve to be assaulted. This is never true and help for battered women is available.

While the term "battered woman syndrome" refers to women, it's also possible for men to be in a similar situation and suffer the same effects. For the purposes of this article, the victim is considered to be female while the abuser is considered to be male but this is not always the case. People in same-sex relationships can also suffer from battered woman, or battered spouse, syndrome.

Profile of an Abusive Husband

While wife batterers can be of any age, race or socioeconomic status, they do often share some character traits.

Perhaps the most closely correlated of all factors is alcohol.²

• In one study, alcohol use preceded the violence in 90% of batterings while in another study the number was reported at 60%

This is not to suggest that alcohol causes wife battering – because it does not – but it does indicate that wife batterers are more likely to be violent, and the violence may be more severe when they are drinking or when they are withdrawing from alcohol. Wife batterers may also use alcohol as an excuse for their behavior.

Spouse batterers may also:

• Have come from home environments where battering took place
• Be childlike, remorseful and yearning to be nurtured, when not aggressive
• Be extremely jealous/possessive
• Attempt to control every moment of the wife's life
• Abuse the children (noted in between 25-54% of cases)

(Information on help for batterers and batterers intervention is here.)

Profile of Someone Suffering from Battered Wife Syndrome

Those who suffer from battered wife syndrome also share common traits. Like batterers, battered wives often come from a history of abuse. In fact, many battered wives initially got married to escape the abuse present at home and may have been married young, very quickly and with no engagement period.

Those suffering from battered woman syndrome also tend to have a uniform response to violence including:

• Agitation and anxiety verging on panic
• The apprehension of imminent doom
• Extreme vigilance
• The inability to relax or sleep
• Nightmares of violence or danger
• Feelings of hopelessness and despair

Due to these extreme reactions to violence in the relationship, those suffering from battered woman syndrome react to any perceived danger (real or not) by pacing, increased activity, screaming and crying.

People suffering from battered woman's syndrome often are passive and unable to act when the violence commences, possibly due to learned helplessness.

Spotting Battered Wife Syndrome

Battered wives seek medical help far more often than non-battered women and so it would be natural to assume that doctors would diagnose battered wife syndrome frequently; however, they do not. Doctors often fail to ask about domestic violence even when a woman repeatedly sees them.

This is complicated by the fact that people suffering from battered wife syndrome often present with symptoms that have nothing to do with the battering like:

• Depression; anxiety
• Headaches
• Stomach aches
• Insomnia
• A choking feeling; hyperventilation; chest pain
• Pelvic pain
• Back pain
• Drug abuse

And as women with battered woman syndrome typically won't bring up the abuse on their own, the doctor must look for signs of domestic violence and solicit information with non-judgemental and open-ended questions such as, "How does your spouse express anger?"

These types of questions need to be made routine in any case where battered wife syndrome is suspected.

article references

Battered women generally need help to leave an abusive relationship. This is because battered women tend to by financially, psychologically and sometimes physically dependent on their abuser. It's critical that any battered woman get help as soon as possible, as abuse tends to increase and escalate over time (read Cycle of Abuse).

Sources of help for a battered woman can be found through healthcare professionals, community organizations, faith organizations, and websites. While some services are specific to women, many services help men too as men can be the victims of battering just like women can. For the purposes of this article, the victim of battery is considered to be a woman and the perpetrator a man.

Choosing to Leave an Abusive Relationship

It can be very difficult for a battered woman to leave a relationship. It is never easy to terminate an important relationship in one's life and there is often added pressure on a battered woman. Battered women tend to fear their abuser and fear what will happen to them and their children if they try to leave; this makes even the thought of leaving painful and frightening.

However, it's important to know that abusers have deep emotional and psychological problems and do not tend to stop abusing without substantial help and even with that help, there is no guarantee they will stop battering. Battered women need to understand that they cannot help their batterer and they cannot make the abuser stop on their own.

It's also important to consider that children who grow up in households where wife battering occurs often grow up to be batterers or victims of battering themselves. When you choose to leave an abusive relationship, you are protecting your children from this possible future. (Effects of Domestic Violence on Women and Children)

If you are a battered woman, you need to remember:¹

• The abuse is not your fault. You did not make your partner hurt you.
• Abuse is never acceptable.
• You deserve to be treated with respect and feel safe in your own home.
• Your children deserve a safe and happy life.
• You are not alone. There are people who want to help you get a better life.

Safety for a Battered Woman

It's important to take care of your own safety and have a domestic violence safety plan in place in any case where abuse is occurring. There are steps you can take before and while leaving an abusive relationship that can enhance your personal safety.

According to HelpGuide.org, there are several considerations to increase your personal safety:

• Plan for emergencies – know the warning signs that your abuser may attack and plan what to do if it happens. Establish a code word so that kids know to get out of the house and others know to call the police in the case of an emergency.
• Make an escape plan – know where to go and what to do if violence erupts. Be ready to leave at a moment's notice with a full tank of gas and a packed bag. Memorize a list of emergency contacts and practice your escape plan.
• Get your own cell phone – using a cordless phone or a family cell phone increases the chance that your abuser can overhear you or even track your movements via GPS. Call people collect or use a phone card.
• Use a computer outside your home – using your own computer can make tracking what you do online, who you email or who you talk to easy. Use a computer at a friend's house or the library to avoid this. Change your passwords frequently.
• Watch for other surveillance devices – there may also be hidden cameras in the home or GPS devices in your car or on your person without your knowledge. Be sure to keep these in place until you are ready to leave so your abuser doesn't know you've found them.

Where to Find Help for Battered Women

Battered women can get information on services from any healthcare professional and from organizations dedicated to stopping violence against women. Most battered women will be referred to a domestic violence shelter. These are places where battered women and their children can anonymously stay, and be taken care of, while they flee from their abuser. Battered women can only stay at shelters for a limited time but shelters help women access services including finding jobs, housing, lawyers, therapists, and other needed items.

To find battered women help:

• Call 911 any time abuse is in progress or if you are already hurt
• Call The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

To find a shelter:

• Contact Womenslaw.org
• Your county social services department
• Your local police department
• Your local United Way

article references

Battered women shelters, also known as domestic violence shelters, are the main places women and their children can go to escape the danger and violence of living with a batterer. Battered women shelters are a refuge where women can feel safe and know that their batterer can't hurt them there. Domestic violence shelters are used in cases of emergency and are typically open 24-hours a day. There are 1500 emergency battered women shelters in the U.S.

Domestic violence shelters also offer services to battered women in many forms. These services are designed to repair the effects of domestic abuse; such as the physical and psychological damage done by being in an abusive relationship. The goal is to get the battered woman on her feet again so she is able to independently care for herself and her family. Battered women shelters are not, in and of themselves, long-term solutions but they can put those solutions into motion.

Services Offered at a Shelter for Battered Women

Services at a shelter for battered women focus on immediate needs and safety, repair of damage and preparation for moving forward with life. These services offer hope that life doesn't have to be lived in fear and that the possibility of a better life exists.

Battered women's shelters may ask for personal information but victims do not have to give it and giving a fake name may be an additional layer of protection against being found by the batterer. Battered women's shelters addresses are kept confidential to reduce the chances of being found by abusers.

Services at a domestic violence shelter may include:¹

• Housing and meals
• Information and referrals; educational programs
• A crisis line
• Support groups and counseling
• Housing assistance
• Employment assistance
• Taking care of personal and medical needs
• Childcare
• Assistance with restraining orders and other legal matters
• Accompaniment to healthcare and legal appointments
• Transportation
• Addiction services

Battered women shelters also tend to offer outreach to women who are not staying in the shelter. You generally do not have to be a resident to receive their services.

Transition Houses

Once the acute, emergency stage is passed wherein a woman leaves her abuser, she may have the opportunity to move to a transition home. Transition homes are also temporary but are environments available to help support a family while they stabilize their lives enough to become self-sufficient.

Finding a Domestic Violence Shelter

DomesticShelters.org makes finding a domestic violence shelter easy. Simply go to their website and search by zip code.

Most agencies have local or toll-free numbers and some also have hotlines.

article references

The fact is battered men exist in big numbers, so battering is not just a female problem. In fact, one in three victims of family violence is a man.¹ And while women are often afraid to speak out against their abusers, battered husbands may speak out even less frequently due to the erroneous belief that it somehow denigrates their manhood. Nothing, though, could be farther from the truth. It's important to remember that women have the capability to be violent to their male partners and males may also experience battering in homosexual relationships.

I had to work long shifts and often when I came home, I'd find my wife had left the children (the youngest was only a few months) and had gone down to the club, drinking and playing the poker machines. Sometimes when I went to get her, she'd smash a glass or a bottle across my head. Several times, I had my head cracked open. Roy

Battered Men – How Bad is It?

Statistics vary on the number of men who are battered each year. Some say that one in three victims are male although other studies have found the number actually approaches fifty percent. Often there is mutual partner violence, where both the man and the woman are violent to each other. It appears that males are the victims of different types of domestic abuse than females and the injuries are often more severe for men.²

• Men vs. women likely to be injured in a domestic violence assault: 22% vs. 53%
• Men vs. women likely to be stabbed in domestic violence cases: 72% vs. 26%

Additionally, male victims of domestic abuse face high levels of battering when in same-sex relationships:

• 15% of men report being raped, physically assaulted, or stalked by their male cohabitant (as compared to 7.7% when the cohabitant is female)

Battered Husbands Face Stigma

Unfortunately, men face significant stigma when coming forward to report being battered. Battered men often face judgment from others around them and even professionals:

Who to talk to for advice - family or friends? No way. I looked up the Yellow Pages. The voice answering the phone at the Rape Crisis Center said, 'Only women are abused'. I spoke to a doctor. She seemed to listen to my stammering for a few minutes and then while scribbling asked, 'What are you doing to make her behave that way?' ~Alan

However, thanks to campaigns like Australia's 1-in-3 campaign, awareness is spreading about battered husbands. In North America, research into the situation is ongoing and some crisis centers are now specifically geared towards men.

Help for Battered Men

Just like for women, no amount of violence is acceptable in a relationship and the battered man is never at fault. Battered husband support is available.

The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women is staffed 24 hours a day and takes calls from any type of victim or those concerned that abuse is taking place. This helpline can refer battered men to social and supportive services.

article references

Articles on Child Abuse, Child Neglect

• What is Child Abuse? Child Abuse Definition
• Types of Child Abuse
• Laws on Child Abuse. What Constitutes Child Abuse?
• How to Report Child Abuse
• Child Abuse Help: How to Help an Abused Child
• What is Child Neglect?
• Signs of Child Neglect and How to Report Child Neglect
• Child Abuse Prevention. How to Stop Child Abuse
• Child Abuse Statistics and Facts

Domestic violence occurs when one partner exerts control over the other while dating, during marriage, or cohabitation. Domestic abuse involves injuring someone, such as a spouse, partner, or other family members within the domestic setting. The injuries caused by domestic violence can be either physical or emotional and the effects of domestic abuse often result in lifelong issues long after the victim has left the abusive environment.

Domestic Violence and Abuse – A Serious, Global Problem

There is no typical victim profile for domestic violence and abuse. All types of domestic violence can occur in every socioeconomic group, educational and religious background, age group, culture, and nation; and it can happen in same-sex relationships as well as traditional heterosexual ones. Even though a typical victim doesn't exist, certain women do have a greater risk of becoming victims of domestic violence and abuse:

• Women living in poverty
• Women with physical disabilities
• Women with mental illness
• Women without a network of support and few resources

Legal Domestic Violence Definition

Mead's Encyclopedia of Law, 2nd Edition 2008, lists the domestic violence definition this way [paraphrased]:

Any abusive, violent, coercive, forceful, or threatening act or word inflicted by one member of a family or household on another can constitute domestic violence.

Why does this legal dictionary define domestic abuse using the indefinite qualifying phrase, "...can constitute domestic violence", rather than saying "...constitutes domestic violence"?

Unlike many other legal definitions of various other types of crimes, recognizing the difference between angry, hurtful words that emerge in the course of a heated argument and the insidious pattern of using verbal domestic abuse to tear down another's self-perception and strength can prove challenging at first. Cruel words used to weaken, control, and tear down the self-esteem of another in a domestic setting represent a common tactic employed by abusers to gain control of their targets.

The legal definition leaves room for interpretation on a case-by-case basis, giving more latitude to law enforcement authorities and court officials to prosecute and stop the cycle of violence and abuse. In turn, the latitude obtained by using an indefinite qualifying phrase in the definition also allows courts and other authorities to dismiss superfluous charges of domestic violence and abuse brought by one person to retaliate against a partner during a divorce, separation, or other legal battles.

Examples of Domestic Abuse

As you read these examples of domestic abuse, remember that all domestic violence, regardless of abuser's tactics and frequency, has one common underlying thread: the abuser's goal to control.

Domestic Violence Scenario I: Your spouse or partner hits you on the arm or leg – not enough to leave a mark. This has never happened before. Your partner seems truly horrified at his actions and apologizes profusely, begging forgiveness, even weeping at your feet. Seeing your strong partner -- who's usually stoic when faced with other agonies of life -- crying and ridden with shame and guilt triggers a flood of love and mercy in you. You forgive him; certain he'll never do it again. Anyone can make a mistake and it didn't even leave a bruise. Right?

Domestic Violence Scenario II: As is bound to happen, you and your spouse have a spat over an issue (i.e. financial burdens, division of home responsibilities, work schedules). Every couple has these types of disagreements and some of them can get pretty heated. But this time, your partner develops anger that seems to exceed the importance of the argument in both scope and magnitude. You're about to go to your Wednesday night art class. He starts accusing you of having an affair, using vile language to describe you (i.e. whore, slut, piece of trash). He threatens to kick you out of the home and leave you on the street, change the locks, take the kids, etc.

Nothing worthwhile is gained by name calling and flinging accusations (with no unequivocal evidence) during an argument. While everyone can get caught up in the "heat of an argument", there's absolutely no excuse for obscene name-calling and verbal threats in an argument. Ever.

Domestic Abuse Scenario III: You're a lesbian who lives with your partner in an exclusive intimate relationship. In an argument, she threatens to expose your closely guarded sexual orientation to your supervisor at work, your family, or worship group. She goes on to justify her threats by saying that your desire to keep your sexual orientation private proves that you either believe homosexuality is a deviant lifestyle or that you're not truly lesbian.

She describes you in offensive, derogatory terms used for lesbians and their intimate sexual activities. When you point out that this amounts to domestic abuse, she claims that women can't be domestic abusers.

You Do Not Deserve to Endure Domestic Abuse

Perpetrators of domestic abuse have serious mental health issues and, in many instances, a self-perception not based in reality. No mistake, action, or sin makes anyone deserving of domestic violence. Abusers want to control their partners and use repetitive accusations and physical abuse to tear down the victim's self-worth and, thus, their personal power to escape the situation. They often deny that the abuse occurred, or deny that what they did constitutes abuse, leaving the victim doubting the abuse took place.

article references

See Also: Teen Dating Violence

Better-defined domestic violence laws were a result of an increase in reports of domestic violence cases in the 1980s. Public news reports of domestic violence charges involving celebrities resulted in a heightened awareness of domestic abuse and associated social and legal issues. The high profile and celebrity involvement in the tragic OJ Simpson case fed the American public's insatiable appetite for sensational celebrity gossip.

High Profile Domestic Violence Cases

In what remains one of the most highly publicized domestic violence cases; the state of California indicted the famed football star for the brutal murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. In a televised, protracted trial, the court acquitted OJ Simpson in a ruling that still conjures up suspicion and uneasiness from many Americans. Some years prior to his ex-wife's brutal murder, a court found Simpson guilty of domestic abuse charges brought by Nicole Brown Simpson while they were still married.

But amid the trite and voyeuristic attitude the public displayed in regards to the media hype surrounding the trial, came the spark that ignited the beginnings of real change. After the tabloid-like media buzz ended, the horror of Simpson's murder served a priceless purpose – it changed the way Americans perceive domestic abuse cases.

Public Perception and Domestic Violence Laws

Prior to the widespread enactment of the initial domestic violence laws in the 1980s, Americans believed that people should handle their domestic abuse issues without legal intervention. You just didn't mention these very private matters to anyone outside the family unit. The feeling was that the victim had probably done something to provoke the violence, creating an environment of shame for the victim.

Public awareness and outrage, ignited by massive media attention to celebrity domestic violence cases and the increased local news stories about the problem, broke the code of silence in American culture.

Domestic Abuse Laws – Are They Enough?

Are the domestic abuse laws written in federal statutes and individual state legal code enough to help empower victims to seek the safety of law enforcement? No legal statutes addressing the crime of domestic violence works perfectly but needs regular re-evaluation and adjustments to reflect changing societal norms. Legal protections include:

• Emergency Protective Order – This temporary order lasts 5 to 7 days, depending on the issuing state. Police issue this order to the victim of domestic abuse immediately after receiving a complaint that an incident has occurred or is occurring. The order requires that the abuser stay away from the victim. Any violation of the specific requirements of an emergency protective order usually results in an arrest of the violator.
• Restraining Order – If you feel threatened by a spouse, cohabitation partner, or other person living in your primary residence, file a motion requesting a restraining order with the court in your area. In essence, your filing requests that the court legally restrict a specific person from contacting you or approaching you at home or in public. If the person violates the order, he or she is in contempt of court and will be arrested.
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)– Listed in Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the VAWA forever altered the landscape for those who once suffered (and sometimes died) in silence. The Act provided for the establishment of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which receives over 20,000 calls for assistance each month. In addition, the VAWA recognizes domestic violence, adult and teen dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as criminal offenses that Americans will not tolerate.

Law Enforcement Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence Cases

The majority of law enforcement officers take domestic violence cases very seriously. Many of them witness the devastating effects domestic abuse can have on all those involved while carrying out their sworn duties each day. Frequently, by the time they arrive at the scene of reported abuse, the victim who called for help has decided against pressing charges. Refusal to press charges against an abuser eliminates the power a concerned police officer has to help victims.

Domestic Abuse Laws - Penalties and Sentencing

While federal laws cover and prosecute acts of interstate domestic violence, the majority of domestic abuse laws are statutes of individual states. Because most domestic violence cases are handled at the state and local level, the penalties and sentences for domestic abusers vary with location. Most states require that all offenders complete a treatment course to prevent repeat domestic violence offenses.

First-time offenses that do not result in medically serious or catastrophic injury to the victim fall into one of the misdemeanor offense category levels. Typically, first-time offenders receive probation, but this depends on the individual circumstances of the case. Felony penalties apply when the offender has a previous domestic violence conviction and has committed a second serious offense, such as stalking, rape, or threatened serious harm or death. Sentencing for repeat offenders almost always includes jail time.

article references

Many types of domestic violence (domestic abuse) exist; each with devastating effects on those involved, including even mere witnesses of the violence. Characterized by a pattern of dominance and control in an intimate relationship, all types of domestic abuse occurs in every imaginable societal and cultural sector. Whether you're rich or poor, male (domestic violence against men) or female, straight or gay, black, white or somewhere in-between – you, or someone you know, has likely been touched by the ripple effects of one of the types domestic abuse. People just like you—from all across the cultural spectrum—can find themselves at risk of sliding into the dangerous cycle of violence in the home.

Types of Domestic Violence – Shades of Control and Power

If your relationship is characterized by a chronic struggle for power and control, there's a good chance that one of the many types of domestic abuse is at play. From the most opulent penthouse luxury apartment to private homes in gated communities to urban projects and rural homesteads, the many types of domestic abuse visit upon victims without discrimination. Learn about the four general types of domestic violence:

1. Physical Domestic Violence – Intentional use of force to cause injury or harm. Physical violence may involve weapon use or the abuser may simply use his larger physical size and strength to cause the harm. Examples of physical domestic abuse include: punching, whipping, biting, choking, restraining (More information on physical abuse)
2. Sexual Domestic Violence – In addition to the act of forcing an unwilling partner to engage in sex, sexual domestic violence includes forcibly having sex with someone who cannot refuse due to illness, disability, the influence of drugs, or fear of retaliation. An abusive partner may force his victim to engage in sex acts that are offensive to her (i.e. anal intercourse, group sex). (More on marital rape, spousal rape)
3. Stalking and Threatening Domestic Violence – Using gestures, words, weapons and simply an intimidating presence to convey a threat to harm, injure, rape, or kill another person represents a personal threat or stalking violence. (Learn more about who these domestic abusers, perpetrators of domestic violence, are.)
4. Psychological and Emotional Domestic Violence – Verbally demeaning, humiliating, threatening or other coercive tactics that evoke emotional stress and trauma in the victim. This may include controlling the victim's personal freedom of movement or choice of activities; publicly and privately humiliating the victim; denying victim access to money, resources, or important personal items and people they love. Withholding information or giving false information, for the purpose of causing psychological pain and suffering, also constitutes emotional abuse. (Detailed information on emotional abuse starts here.)

These general types of domestic abuse have many shades and variations, carefully customized by the abuser to use in his insatiable quest for power and control. If your partner has a pattern of behavior that makes you feel devalued or humiliated, it's domestic violence – regardless of whether it seems to fit in one of the above four categories.

Multiple research studies show that the types of domestic violence present in a family environment tend to worsen and intensify over time. Staying in an abusive environment not only causes devastating harm to the immediate victim but also seriously affects children who witness the abuse even if they never experience it firsthand. Learn to recognize the types of domestic abuse and speak out for yourself and others who you feel may be in an abusive situation.

article references