Domestic Violence Defined

"Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner," is the National Center for Victims of Crime's definition.  There is no one accepted definition for Domestic Violence, but this one says it pretty succinctly, in my not so humble opinion.  To me the key words are "control and power."  This describes every abuse whether is is (child abuse, elder abuse, family units of various types, or intimate partners).  Abuse is a abuse and these are a few of the weapons in an abuser's arsenal.   

Domestic violence includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.  Physical Abuse: Hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair pulling, denying a partner medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use upon another person.  Sexual Abuse: coercing any sexual contact or behavior without consent, marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, treating one in a sexually demeaning manner.  Emotional Abuse: verbal abuse that undermines individual's sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem through constant criticism,  name-calling, damaging one's relationship with the children.  Economic Abuse: attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one's access to money, forbidding one's attendance at school or employment.  Psychological Abuse: causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner's family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work.
National Network to End Domestic Violence