What Are The Types of Domestic Violence?

The United Nations defines domestic abuse as: “a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.”

Domestic violence is a shockingly common occurrence the world over, with an estimated 10 million people in the United States alone affected on an annual basis. Broken down further, around 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 9 men are victims of domestic violence—a number which is believed to be underreported.

It isn’t far-fetched to claim that every health worker will at some point encounter a domestic abuse victim in their field.1

In certain cases, this abuse may be extended to a child, elderly family members, or other relatives. Such incidents are referred to as family violence.

Of the many forms of abuse, physical violence is often viewed as synonymous with domestic violence—its telltale signs offer easy markers of mistreatment. However, while other forms of abuse may not produce bodily harm, this doesn’t make their impact any less damaging.

We’ll be learning about the different forms of domestic violence, as well as ways to identify whether you or a person you know may be experiencing abuse in an intimate relationship or within your family.

Risk Factors For Domestic Abuse

There can never be a justification for abuse. However, to understand this phenomenon, it's important to note that most abusers act in order to gain control over their victims. This desire for control may stem from anger management issues, low self-esteem, jealousy, an inferiority complex, personality disorders, learned behavior, as well as from alcohol or substance abuse.

The development of this dangerous need for control may be encouraged by the following risk factors:

• Lower education levels
• Childhood abuse
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Men who view women as inferior
• Growing up in an abusive environment
• Females who witness domestic violence as children

An abuser's desire to dominate may be exercised using physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse. It may also come in the form of stalking or isolating a victim. 

Types of Domestic Abuse

Let's discuss the most common types of domestic abuse.

Physical Abuse

As we’ve seen, this is one of the most common forms of domestic abuse. This treatment may be meted out in varying degrees of severity. Typical forms of abuse, among others, might include:

• Grabbing
• Pushing
• Slapping
• Shoving
• Hitting
• Stabbing
• Burning
• Biting

Other forms of physical abuse can include:

• Withholding physical needs such as sleep or food
• Refusing to release necessities (e.g., drugs)
• Locking a victim out of the house
• Withholding help where the victim is sick/injured

A very common and sinister form of physical abuse in intimate relationships is rape. Approximately 1.5 million women experience rape within their relationships every year—a staggering statistic.2

The reported results of the 2011 National Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Survey found that men and women suffered through an almost equal amount of sexual assault within their relationships. The survey was carried out over a 12-month period, and recorded around 2.4 million cases split nearly in half between the sexes.3

Within the elderly population, approximately 2% experience physical assault, 1% live through sexual abuse, while 5% are subjected to neglect annually. Within the younger population, approximately 10% of children are exposed to domestic violence annually.

Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/different-types-of-domestic-violence-5119884