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ABOUT ABUSE
Index
Click below to learn about some basic terminology relating to abuse.
- Domestic Abuse - Any behavior exhibited in a relationship in which an individual attempts to gain or maintain power over an intimate partner
- Child Abuse - A pattern of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse or neglect aimed toward a child by a caregiver
- Elderly Abuse - A pattern of physical, emotional, or financial abuse or neglect aimed toward an elderly individual by a caregiver
- Help Line - A telephone line that serves the purpose of providing help for specific problems
- Hotline - A telephone line that serves the purpose of providing immediate help in emergency situations
- Therapy - A treatment for mental health disorders and difficulties through communication and interaction with licensed medical providers
Why might abuse happen?
Perpetrators of domestic abuse are often associated with having experienced childhood abuse themselves. This sort of upbringing could cause an individual to believe violence is the best way to handle certain situations. Those who are exposed to violence in their childhood are taught to also employ violence, possibly as a way to gain dominance.
Other factors that increase the likelihood of domestic violence include drug and alcohol abuse. Also, males who are taught that females are not equally respected are more likely to be perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Types of Abuse
Physical Abuse - A pattern of harming or attempting to harm another individual in a domestic setting that includes:
- Hitting
- Burning
- Pinching
- Grabbing
- Hair-pulling
- Biting
- Denial of medical care or the police
- Use of objects or weapons to cause
- harm
Emotional Abuse AKA Psychological Abuse - Manipulative and non-physical abuse meant to isolate that includes:
- Threatening harm to self or others
- Destruction of one’s personal property
- Constant criticism
- Verbal degradation of one’s self-worth and abilities
- Prevention of seeing family members/forcing isolation
- Exertion of excessive control over one’s daily life
Sexual Abuse - Behavior that forces another individual into nonconsensual and/or violent sexual acts
Stalking - A pattern of obsessive behavior including repeated phone calls or mail and the monitoring of an unknowing victim at a home or workplace
How to Recognize Abuse
Abuse can show itself as signs in a victim, both physically and in terms of their behavior:
- Fractures
- Bruises and/or wounds on the skin
- Injuries are common on the head, neck, and face
- Sings of resistance include injuries on the arms
- Clothing may be used to hide injuries
- An unkept or malnourished appearance
- Withdrawn, shy, or aggressive behavior
If you see something, say something.
As per the NIH, over 1500 annual deaths in the United States are due to domestic violence. Anyone can be a victim of abuse.
Reference
Huecker, M. R., King, K. C., Jordan, G. A., & Smock, W. (2023, April 9). Domestic violence.. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm
World Health Organization: WHO. (2022, June 17). Mental health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499891/
United Nations. (n.d.). What is domestic abuse? | United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse
Office on Violence Against Women. (2023, December 6). Domestic violence. https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence