What is domestic violence?

Question

i would like to know if there is a website where i can find out what is and what isnt considered domestic violence because the boundaries to me seem unclear.... i heard that up to 85 percent of U.S. families might be considered harmed by domestic violence but that seems like a huge number..

Answer 1

Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive, controlling behavior, used by one partner over another in an intimate relationship. DV can take the form of physical abuse, mental/emotional/verbal abuse, sexual abuse, and financial abuse. The goal of an abuser is to gain and maintain power and control over their partner. Domestic Violence can be very subtle, and usually starts small and escalates as the relationship progresses.

1 in 3 women have been or will be victims of domestic violence.

93-98% of victims of DV are women.

Check out ndvh.org (The National Domestic Violence Hotline's website).  

Answer 2

Domestic violence is when a husband AND wife get into physical arguments and hurt one another. Society loves to blame men all the time when the wife ends up hurt,but women also beat their spouse in return.

Arguing is normal in a relationship,but when it turns physical,thats when it is domestic violence.

Answer 3

[Quote]

Domestic Violence can be defined as violence occurring within a household or between family members.

The violence may be physical, sexual or verbal or it may take the form of continual and habitual psychological, social or financial abuse.

[End Quote]

Source: http://www.womensactionalliance.com.au/d...

[Quote]

Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or spousal abuse) occurs when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another.

Domestic violence has many forms, including physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, economic deprivation, and threats of violence. Violence can be criminal and includes physical assault (hitting, pushing, shoving, etc.), sexual abuse (unwanted or forced sexual activity), and stalking. Although emotional, psychological and financial abuse are not criminal behaviors, they are forms of abuse and can lead to criminal violence . There are a number of dimensions including mode - physical, psychological, sexual and/or social; frequency - on/off, occasional, chronic; and severity – in terms of both psychological or physical harm and the need for treatment – transitory or permanent injury – mild, moderate, severe up to homicide.

[End Quote]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_vi...

[Quote]

In their diagnostic and treatment guidelines for physicians, The American Medical Association defines intimate partner abuse as "the physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse to an individual perpetrated by a current or former intimate partner. While this term is gender-neutral, women are more likely to experience physical injuries and incur psychological consequences of intimate partner abuse."

In a study, published in the Archives of Family Medicine, designed to measure physician's attitudes and practices toward victims of domestic violence, Snugg, et al, defined domestic violence as "past or present physical and/or sexual violence between former or current intimate partners, adult household members, or adult children and a parent. Abused persons and perpetrators could be of either s*x, and couples could be heterosexual or homosexual.

[End Quote]

Source: http://www.findcounseling.com/journal/do...

More links:

http://www.ncsmc.org.au/wsas/violence_an...

http://wfnetwork.bc.edu/glossary_entry.p...

http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov...

For statistics try:

http://www.abanet.org/domviol/statistics...

and

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/welcome.htm...

It's not about husband and wife only, any family member or person living in the same home can be part of domestic violence. Where the line is drawn to determine what's abuse and violence is another issue and it's not always easy.