Domestic Violence and Abuse

Domestic violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners (Warshaw and Ganley, 1998)* (see Figure 4.1). e range of behaviors used by an abusive partner is extensive, and runs the gamut from intimidation to death. All are designed to increase the perpetrator’s sense of power by exerting control over the victim, be it physical, sexual, emotional, šnancial, or a combination.