Contact us

Forms of Domestic Abuse  Back

Domestic violence can take on many forms. Most often it begins as psychological manipulation and escalates into physical violence. Domestic violence does not always include physical abuse. Its forms include:

Verbal Abuse constant criticism, making humiliating remarks, mocking, name calling, ignoring, yelling, swearing, interrupting

Emotional Not expressing feelings, not giving compliments, not paying attention, not taking the victim’s concerns seriously, and not respecting the victim’s feelings, rights and opinions

Abusing Trust Lying, breaking promises, withholding important information, being unfaithful, being overly jealous, not sharing domestic responsibilities

Coercion Making the victim feel guilty, pushing the victim into decisions, sulking, manipulating children or other family members, always insisting on being right, making up impossible "rules" and punishing the victim for breaking them

Isolation Making it hard for the victim to see friends and relatives, monitoring phone calls, reading mail, controlling where the victim goes, taking the victim’s car keys.

Economic Control Not paying bills, refusing to give the victim money, not letting the victim work, interfering with the victim’s job, refusing to support the family.

Physical Abuse hitting, slapping, kicking, choking, pushing, punching, beating.

Sexual Abuse Forcing any sexual act on an unwilling partner

Threats and Intimidation threatening to harm the victim, children and pets, shouting, using physical size to intimidate, keeping weapons and threatening to use them

Harassment Following or stalking, embarrassing the victim in public, constantly checking up on the victim, refusing to leave when asked

Destruction of property destroying furniture, punching walls, throwing things, breaking things

Self destructive behavior Abusing drugs or alcohol, threatening self-harm or suicide, driving recklessly, deliberately doing things that will cause trouble.