Domesic Violence/Types of Abuse

[philly]

BASIC INFORMATION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Many of you may know a family member or friend that is involved in an abusive relationship. You too may be a victim of domestic violence. Know the signs of abuse so that you may seek counseling and GET out of the relationship!

EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Although the signs of emotional abuse are very difficult to see, this abuse can be far more damaging, devastating to the victim. Emotional abuse can control the decisions of the victim long after the abuser is out of the picture. Without counseling the victim may never recover from this form of abuse.

Emotional abuse involves intimidation, coercion and threats:
1. The abuser threatens to physically hurt the victim
2. The abuser threatens to leave
3. The abuser threatens to take away the children
4. The abuser threatens to report the victim to different authorities
5. The abuser threatens to take or break the victim's belongings
6. The abuser threatens to commit suicide
7. The abuser threatens to cut off finances
8. The abuser hurts or kills pets
9. The abuser displays weapons
10. The abuser hurts themselves
11. The abuser makes the victim do illegal things
The abuser isolates the victim:

1. The abuser controls what the victim does
2. The abuser controls who the victim sees and talks to
3. The abuser controls what the victim watches and reads
4. The abuser controls where the victim goes
5. The abuser controls the victim outside involvement
6. The abuser calls home throughout the day to make sure the victim has not left the house

The abuser uses "male privilege":
1. The abuser treats the victim like a servant
2. The abuser makes all the big decisions
3. The abuser defines the role of the wife and husband
4. The abuser acts like the "master" of the castle

The abuser denies responsibility:
1. The abuser makes light of the abuse
2. The abuser does not take the victims concerns seriously
3. The abuser denies the abuse happened
The abuser blames the victim for the abuse, saying "you made me do it".

PHYSICAL ABUSE
This is the easiest type of abuse to identify because it usually, but not always, leaves visible signs on the victim. Many victims are treated in the emergency room but are afraid to tell how they got hurt.

1. The abuser uses their body to bump into the victim
2. The abuser grabs at and yanks on the victim
3. The abuser hits, kicks, pushes, pulls out hair of the victim
4. The abuser uses objects to hit the victim
The abuser uses "lethal" weapons (knives, guns) to hurt the victim

VERBAL ABUSE

-The abuser puts down the victim
-The abuser calls the victim names
-The abuser uses loud voices and screaming to intimidate the victim
-The abuser uses foul language
-Some of the things that are verbal abuse are also emotional abuse.

1. The abuser humiliates the victim in public
2. The abuser tries to make the victim think they are crazy by using lies
3. The abuser accuses the victim of having affairs
4. The abuser tells the victim they do not know how to do things correctly
5. The abuser denies saying things when the victim wants to talk about them later

SEXUAL ABUSE
-The abuser forces the victim to do things she/he does not like
-The abuser forces the victim to have sex against their will
-The abuser attacks, verbally and physically, the sexual parts of the victims body
-The abuser treats the victim like a sex object

ECONOMIC ABUSE
The abuser may keep the victim from getting or keeping a job.
1. The abuser gets the victim in trouble at work by calling throughout the day
2. The abuser comes to work and gets the victim into trouble
3. The abuser causes the victim to miss work
1. The abuser refuses to let the victim leave the house
2. The abuser has left bruises and the victim is embarrassed to go to work
4. The abuser does not let the victim have transportation
The abuser may keep control of the money:
1. The abuser makes the victim ask for money
2. The abuser gives the victim an allowance and then monitors the spending.
The abuser may not let the victim know about or have access to the family money.