Domestic Violence

Domestic violence involves the abuse of both power and control. These two components are the foundation of all abusive personalities.

DV does not fit into a specific mold or scenario. However, there is language that helps give context to shared experiences and frames a definition of domestic violence. 

DV is a pattern of increasingly frequent physical, sexual, verbal, and/or psychological attacks. DV can also be economic coercion that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners to obtain power. DV is learned behavior. The true function of domestic violence is to control another person.

Any behavior that is intended to harm the body, mind, or spirit of another person is abusive. If the behavior is meant to hurt, intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, frighten, harass, terrorize, or control another person in the household, it is domestic abuse. This violence can impact other household members as well.

Domestic violence impacts people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, socioeconomic  backgrounds, educational backgrounds, and religions.