What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence – or intimate partner violence – is not physical violence alone. It's any behavior intended to gain or maintain power and control over a spouse, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend or intimate family member. Abuse is a learned behavior; it's not caused by anger, mental problems, drugs or alcohol or other common excuses.
A few of the most common ways abusers control victims:
- Isolation
- Emotional abuse
- Using children
- Dominating finances, family resources and access to healthcare
- Physical and sexual assault
More information is available from: