Types of Abusive Behavior
An abusive relationship -married or dating-may contain a few, some or many of these acts of violence:
Physical
- slapping
- pushing
- pinching
- hitting
- shoving
- shaking
- hair pulling
- biting
- burning
- strangling
- suffocating
- stabbing
- restraining victim
- murder
Sexual
- rape
- sexual assault
- threats of rape or sexual assault
- unwanted sexual touching or sexual coercion
- lewd comments directed at victim’s body and sexuality, or performance of a sexual act to offend or humiliate her
Psychological
- abuser constantly criticizes the victim (how she looks, performs tasks, or her ability to be good wife or mother)
- limits victim’s contact with friends and family
- limits victim’s decision-making power for herself and children
- continually monitors victim’s actions and whereabouts
- insists the victim check in frequently throughout the day
- threatens victim with physical or sexual harm
- threatens victim with a gun, knife or other object
- threatens to harm victim’s children or other family members or friends
- threatens to take children away
- abuses children (physically, sexually and/or psychologically)
- threatens or harms pets
- extreme jealousy -- accuses victim of cheating with another partner
- blames victim for things that go wrong, including the abuser’s own behavior
- destroys property
- locks victim in the house or threatens her if she leaves the house
- threatens suicide or homicide
- harasses or stalks victim once the relationship has ended
- threatens to harm the victim if she leaves the relationship and enters another; “If I can’t have you nobody will,” or words to that effect.
Financial
- abuser controls victim’s money or access to money
- controls victim’s ability to work and earn money
- threatens to get victim fired
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