What Does Domestic Violence Involve?

• It occurs in all age, racial, socio-economic, educational, occupational, and religious groups.

• It occurs within intimate relationships.

• It typically involves repetitive behaviour encompassing different types of abuse.

• It is a systematic way of maintaining power and control over victims.

• It is a learned behaviour.

• It is caused by the perpetrator, NOT by the victim or the relationship.

• It is a criminal offence when physical or sexual force, actual or threatened is used.

• It is experienced more often by women.

• It results in more severe forms of violence and more serious injuries to female victims than to male victims.

• It may present increased risk to the victim and children at the time of separation from the abuser.

• It evokes victim behaviour that is often about survival.

Source Used With Permission:  L.L. Bader, R.G. Jaffe, and K.J. Moore (2001).  Understanding the Effects of Domestic Violence:  A Trainer’s Manual for Early Childhood Educators.  London ON:  Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System. 

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