Forms of Violence

Domestic Violence includes, but is not limited to the following forms; physical, emotional and psychological, sexual, financial, and environmental.

• Physical; Abuse of physical force against someone in a way that injures or endangers their lives. Behaviors include hitting, grabbing, choking, kicking, throwing things, and assault with weapons (guns, knives, other objects, etc.
• Emotional and Psychological; can be verbal or nonverbal. Its mission is to chip away at self-esteem or independence. Forms are yelling, name-calling, blaming, shaming, isolation, intimidation. Abusers who use emotional and psychological often threaten acts of physical violence.
• Sexual; uses sex as a weapon by requiring partner to participate in unwanted, unsafe, or degrading sexual activity. Abuses also, use withdrawal of sex to control their partners.
• Financial; Includes controlling the finances, withholding money or credit cards, giving an allowance, make the victim account for every penny spent, stealing or taking victim’s money, exploiting victims assets for abuser’s personal gain, preventing victim from working or choosing own career, or sabotaging victim’s job (calling constantly, always showing up at victim’s place of employment or making victim miss work)
• Environmental; requires victim to live in sub-standard housing, uses vehicles as weapons (threatens to have an accident, drives erratically, tries to throw victim from moving vehicle, etc.), or withholding basic necessities (food, clothes, medications, shelter).

Domestic Violence is not discriminatory. It occurs in all ages, genders, ethnic backgrounds, financial levels and partner choice.

Information Above from the
Domestic Abuse Intervention Project

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children -

Feelings of guilt, worry, and anxiety
Irritability, Temper Tantrums
Frequent headaches, ulcers, and other stress-induced
illness
Fear of abandonment
Low self-esteem
Self-abuse, nightmares, and social isolation