Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is a pattern of coercive behavior characterized by the domination and control of one person over another person, usually and intimate partner, through physical, psychological, emotional, verbal, sexual, and or economic abuse.

Facts About Domestic Violence

  • 1 out of every 4 American women report that they have been physically abused by a husband or boyfriend.
  • Every 15 seconds a woman is battered in the United States by her boyfriend, husband, or live in partner.
  • Women are 85 - 95% of the victims of intimate violence.
  • At least 25% of domestic violence victims are pregnant when beaten.
  • At least 3.3 million children between the ages of 13 and 19 are at risk of exposure to parental violence each year.
  • Between 50 - 70% of men who abuse their female partners also abuse their children.
  • One third of high school and college students experience violence in an intimate relationship during their dating years.

Who Are the Victims?

  • Statistically, most victims are women.
    • 85 - 90% are women
  • Children can be direct or indirect victims.
    • They may be abused.
    • They may be forced to see a parent abused.
    • The abuser may threaten them as a means of control.
  • Teenagers experience dating violence.
  • Can occur in gay and lesbian relationships.
  • Elderly and people with disabilities.
  • Co-workers

Who Are the Abusers?

Abusers typically:

  • Deny the abuse has occurred or make light of the violence.
  • Blame the victim, or other people outside the event
  • Abusers do not act because they are out of control.

Abusers choose to respond to a situation with violence.

  • They are not acting out of pure anger.
  • They are not reacting to stress.
  • Abuse is a learned behavior.
A text and graphic representation of the Cycle of Abuse.