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Some Facts About Domestic Violence
 | Domestic Violence is a serious social problem. It may be defined as “the
physical abuse of a child or an adult by another with whom they are
acquainted or related and with whom they may or may not reside.” |
| Domestic violence includes spouse abuse, child abuse, abuse of the
elderly, sibling abuse, incest, and often rape. It is the type of behavior
that is done in the context of an intimate relationship. |
| Legal Definition: “Abuse means inflicting or attempting to inflict
physical injury on an adult or minor by other than accidental means, placing
an adult or minor in fear or physical harm, physical restraint, or malicious
damage to the personal party.” |
| Behavioral Definition: “Domestic violence, or battering, is a pattern of
coercive behaviors whereby the batterer seeks to control the thoughts,
beliefs, or conduct of his or her intimate partner or to punish the intimate
partner for resisting the batterer’s control over her or him.” |
Progression of Violence
| Pre-Battering Violence – Throwing objects, making threats, hitting
objects. When abusers hit or break objects or make threats, almost 100% of
them will resort to battering. |
| Beginning Levels – Pushing, Grabbing, Restraining. |
| Severe Levels – Choking, beating with objects (ball bats, sticks, bed
slats, etc.). Use of Weapons and Rape. |
| There are 2 kinds of rape associated with domestic violence:
 | Use of Weapons; and |
| She submits out of fear that if she were to say no he would get
angry and cause her physical harm. |
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Types of Violence
| Abusers control their victims in one of three ways – physically,
emotionally, and sexually. They use a pattern of all three of these
behaviors to control each part of the victim’s life. |
| Physical – hitting, pushing, restraining, biting, scratching,
strangling, etc. |
| Emotional – name-calling, humiliation, guilt trips, smashing things,
displaying weapons, making/and or carrying out threats to hurt the victim,
threatening to commit suicide, hurting pets or sentimental objects. |
| Sexual – rape, withholding sex, making her prostitute herself. |
D A N G E R
Many, perhaps most people believe that battered women will be safe once
they separate from the abuser. However, leaving does not usually put an end to
the violence. Men who believe that they are entitled to a relationship with
their partners or that they own them view women’s departure as an ultimate
betrayal, which justifies retaliation (Saunders & Browne, 1990; Dutton, 1988;
Bernard et al. 1982). Up to ¾ of domestic assaults occur after separation.
Why Victims Stay
| Fear |
| That they can never make it on their own. |
| That they will be found and severely beaten or killed. |
| That the batterer will take their children away. |
| That they will have no one to help them. |
| Religious traditions. |
| Dependence upon the batterer for everything. |
| Live in a Rural Area – no transportation, no close help. |
| Hope that he really will change. |
| They love the good parts about their partners. |
| They want their children to have a father. |
DO NOT DESPAIR!
THERE IS CONFIDENTIAL, CARING HELP AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS THROUGH THE FAMILY
VIOLENCE PROGRAM.
Services Available:
| Hotline – 423-476-3886 (Polk Co. residents may call collect). |
| Crisis Counseling – 423-479—9339 Ext. 25 or 15 |
| Group Support – 423-479-9339 Ext. 15 |
| Court Advocacy – 423-479-9339 Ext. 22 |
| Rape and Sexual Assault Services – 423-479-9339 Ext. 22 |
| Trainings/Presentations – 423-479-9339 Ext. 25 |
| Volunteer Opportunities – 423-479-9339 Ext. 15 |
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