Embedded Files
Page 1
DEFINITION
There are many terms used to define the violence that occurs between intimate adults. The most common include: family violence, battering, domestic assault, marital violence, spouse abuse, wife beating, and domestic violence. Whatever the term used, the key concept inherent to adult-to-adult violence is “control.” Perpetrators of domestic violence have a specific goal: to establish and maintain power and control over another. During this course, we will be looking specifically at domestic violence between intimate partners. Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of assaultive and controlling behavior including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks, as well as economic control, which adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners.
Because domestic violence centers around intimacy, it is important to recognize that the violence that occurs between intimate adults is not exclusive to married partners but can also occur between boyfriend/girlfriend, ex-spouses, same-gender couples, and partners with an on-going or prior intimate relationship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 90% - 95% of domestic violence victims are women. While we acknowledge that there are incidents of men being abused by women and some cases involve people of the same sex, throughout this text, we will refer to the perpetrator as “he” and the survivor or victim as “she”. Battered victims and batterers or perpetrators come from all economic and education levels, all racial and cultural groups, all religions, and all ages. Regardless of who the victim or batterer is, battering is a crime. No one has a right to hurt another. Battering may begin insidiously, with a push or shove, or perhaps a sharp criticism or an insulting remark. Once battering begins, however, it usually escalates -- both in frequency and severity. Domestic violence can include bodily injury, destruction of property, intimidation, coercion, revenge, and punishment. Threats of violence lay a foundation of fear -- all of which are methods to control the partner. When the batterer’s threats put the survivor in fear for her safety or the safety of her family, children or property -- he has committed a crime.
Google Sites
Report abuse