ABSTRACT
Domestic violence occurs between members of a family or partners in an intimate relationship. It includes murders, rapes, robberies, or assaults committed by spouses, ex-spouses, boyfriends, or girlfriends. It is a pattern of coercive behavior that usually involves repeated beatings and injury. It may include emotional or psychological abuse, sexual assault, social isolation, and intimidation of the victim. Spouse abuse is violent victimization of one partner, most often the woman, by the other partner within a marriage. Abuse of women may also occur during dating relationships and relationships which have already terminated through separation and divorce. Men who abuse women share a number of common characteristics. They are usually emotionally dependent on the woman that they are abusing. Domestic violence typically begins with minor and occasional assaults and escalates to more severe and frequent abuse. Domestic abuse is likely if the woman fears returning to her home or expresses concern for the safety of her children.
