General Relationship Violence
Domestic violence is not a singular event but a pattern of assaulting and coercive behaviors utilized by the abuser against the victim. It can occur in marriage or any intimate relationship including gay or lesbian (Ganley, 1996).
The effects of domestic violence reach beyond the abuser and victim. The children, the extended family and the community suffer from such rage. The outcome can be trauma, death, chronic illness and mental health issues for victims, children and abusers (Ganley, 1996). It is estimated abuse is one of the leading causes of injury to women age 15 to 44 (Ingrassia & Beck, 1996/1997).
Domestic Violence Defined
The legal definition of domestic violence is found in Penal Code Section 13700, it is abuse committed against an adult or fully emancipated minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship.
Types of Abuse
The main purpose of abuse is to maintain power and control. Five forms of relationship violence exist; physical, emotional, economic, psychological, and sexual.
- In physical abuse, a person attempts to inflict harm on another. This includes but is not limited to pushing, shoving, slapping, punching, hitting with a blunt object, stabbing or shooting.
- In emotional abuse, one person attempts to undermine the other person’s self-worth. Some examples would be constant criticism, belittling insults or manipulating feelings.
- In economic abuse, the perpetrator puts the victim in a financially dependent position (Chez, 1994). The abuser decides how the money will be spent. This occurs several ways and across all economic classes. Some examples of maintaining financial control are, not allowing the victim to work. Another is making the victim keep detailed records of every penny spent. A third is for the abuser to refuse to go to work.
- Though fear, psychological abuse is the attempt to ensure the victim only has the abuser to rely on. Threats of violence may be directed at the victim or may include suicide threats. Intimidation may be attacks on property, a loved one or pets. They may also be stalking, or screaming at the victim’s face. The abuser gains control through isolation and misinformation. It can be subtle or blatant. Subtle includes comments like wanting to be with the victim all the time because they love them so much. Misinformation tactics are lies perpetrators use to distort the victims sense of reality such as lies about legal rights.
- Sexual abuse has two components. First is the attempt at or actual coercing for any sexual contact without consent. The second is the attempt to undermine another’s sexuality. For example, treating another in a sexually derogatory manner or criticizing sexual performance.
