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.