For today’s DVAM post, we will provide a definition and examples

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in which a person attempts to intimidate, dominate, or control another person with whom they have an ongoing (or past) intimate relationship. The pattern, or cycle, often repeats during a relationship and after the relationship has ended. Over time, the level of violence frequently increases, or escalates.

Domestic violence can take many forms. Here are some examples:

Physical assault: hitting, pushing, shoving, choking, kicking, grabbing, tripping, biting, use of a weapon, strangulation
Sexual assault: sexual activity without permission through force, threats or intimidation, or when a person is too intoxicated or under the influence of any substance to consent
Stalking: a pattern of behavior in which threats are used to intimate or harass, or which results in serious emotional distress to a person
Isolation: controlling where someone goes or who a person is allowed to see, limited outside involvement
Economic abuse: preventing someone from getting or maintaining a job, controlling all the finances, withholding money, requiring someone to ask for money and/or to justify spending money
Emotional abuse: put downs and name calling to make someone feel bad about themselves, gaslighting, manipulation, guilting, humiliation

These behaviors can take huge toll on someone's safety, well-being, academics, and employment.

Support resources are linked in this post.

Brought to you by the SHAPE Office.