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Domestic Violence >   Types Of Domestic Violence

Types Of Domestic Violence

Abusers will display similar behaviours these tend to escalate in frequency and severity over time. The following are some of the tactics used by perpetrators

  • Pushing, pinching, squeezing, kicking, slapping, choking, punching, cutting, tripping, burning, and pulling hair.
  • Holding you down
  • Punching the wall or kicking the doors
  • Threatening you with a weapon.
  • Throwing objects at you.
  • Refusing to help you when you are sick, injured or pregnant.
  • Blaming or accusing you.
  • Shouting at you.
  • Saying hurtful things to upset you.
  • Forcing you to listen.
  • Manipulating you with lies.
  • Abusing pets or children.
  • Destroying important belongings.
  • Giving you the “silent treatment”.
  • Isolating you from the outside world.
  • When you try to explain, or give your side during an argument, your partner may shout, “don’t talk back to me”. It feels as though he/she is the boss.
  • Driving dangerously or aggressively to intimidate or frighten you.
  • Sexual name-calling.
  • Forcing you to dress or perform in a sexual way that you find unpleasant.
  • Forcing pregnancy.
  • Being exposed to pornographic material against your will.
  • Rape or sexual assault.
  • People who behave like this are called abusers.

The Cycle Of Abuse

The Tension Building Phase is characterised by

  • Walking on eggshells
  • Criticism and Sarcasm
  • Name calling
  • “I am trying to do everything right but my partner keeps getting mad at me.”

Abusive Incident Phase is characterised by

  • The big fight
  • The explosion
  • The break-up
  • The violence
  • “My partner’s totally crazy he has just exploded”

Conflict Resolution Phase is characterised by

  • Apology and explanations
  • Shared feelings
  • Excuses and denial, minimising what happened
  • Spelling out the rules
  • Forcing the victim to admit that she or he was partially to blame
  • My partner was under a lot of stress and it didn't help that I was talking to someone else.
  • He/She is just a little insecure. We worked it all out.

Honeymoon Phase is characterised by

  • Falling in love again
  • Us against the world
  • Getting back together
  • Passion
  • “We were meant for each other. My partner loves me very much.”