Witney's Lights
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From Darkness to Light...Domestic Violence Stops Here!
Number of Visitors
| Contact Us: P.O. Box 1609 Dover, DE 19903 Quincy@witneyslights.com |
Cycle of Domestic Violence
| There is a distinct three phase cycle in abusive relationships. The cycle is kept going by a combination of emotions including love, hope, fear, and denial that give the abuser power and control over the relationship. |
| What is domestic violence? Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior used to establish power and control over another person--usually an intimate partner. It happens when one person believes they are entitled to control another and can include physical, psychological, emotional, verbal, sexual, and/or economic abuse. Why does domestic violence happen? Abusive relationships can develop gradually. There is a definite cycle that combines the good times with often subtle abusive acts that allow the abuser to gain power and control over the relationship and, eventually, lead the victim to emotional dependence and learned helplessness. By the time a pattern has emerged there are often children involved, financial ties, and emotional bonds that are difficult to break. TYPES OF ABUSE |
PHYSICAL: slapping, hitting, punching, pinching, shoving, pushing, grabbing, biting,
preventing partner from entering or leaving a room/house, restraining, abandoning
partner in a dangerous place, throwing objects, destroying property, refusing to assist
with medical care.
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL: isolating partner from family and friends, ignoring
partner's feelings, calling derogatory names, constant criticism, accusations of infidelity,
manipulating with lies, threats (to leave, take away the children, etc.), excessive
possessiveness.
SEXUAL: forcing sex or specific sexual acts, minimizing the importance of partner's
feelings towards sex, criticizing partner's sexual performance, publicly showing interest
in other women.
VERBAL: name calling, using a threatening tone of voice, degrading comments,
interrogating partner, blaming partner.
ECONOMIC: preventing partner from working, refusing to work or share money,
restricting partner to an allowance, taking or hiding money, not letting partner be
involved in money-making decisions
preventing partner from entering or leaving a room/house, restraining, abandoning
partner in a dangerous place, throwing objects, destroying property, refusing to assist
with medical care.
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL: isolating partner from family and friends, ignoring
partner's feelings, calling derogatory names, constant criticism, accusations of infidelity,
manipulating with lies, threats (to leave, take away the children, etc.), excessive
possessiveness.
SEXUAL: forcing sex or specific sexual acts, minimizing the importance of partner's
feelings towards sex, criticizing partner's sexual performance, publicly showing interest
in other women.
VERBAL: name calling, using a threatening tone of voice, degrading comments,
interrogating partner, blaming partner.
ECONOMIC: preventing partner from working, refusing to work or share money,
restricting partner to an allowance, taking or hiding money, not letting partner be
involved in money-making decisions
- Battering is the single major cause of injury to women, more frequent than auto accidents, muggings and rapes
- An act of adult domestic violence occurs every 15 seconds, more frequently than any other crime in the U.S. (FBI).
have lived together (FBI).
- Thirty percent of women presenting with injuries in an Emergency Department are battered (American Journal of
Public Health).
- Family violence kills as many women every 5 years as the total number of Americans who died in the Vietnam War
(AMA).
- In the study of homelessness undertaken by the Pennsylvania Homeless Coalition, one out of three homeless
households identified domestic violence as the cause of their homelessness.
- Eighty percent of all hostage situations are related to domestic violence (U.S. Department of Justice).
Boys from homes where domestic violence is present are:
- 4 times more likely to abuse in a dating relationship.
- 25 times more likely to commit rape as an adult.
- 6 times more likely to commit suicide.
- Have a 74% greater chance of committing crimes against others.
- Have a 24% greater chance of committing a sexual assault as an adult.
- AND 1000 times more likely to commit violent acts against their own children.
| If you are a victim call the national Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE |