ABSTRACT
When we think of family abuse we may be tempted to categorize the types of abuse in a least-to-most severity scale. In other words, we may want to place verbal abuse at the left end of the spectrum, and place physical abuse at the right end. That view minimizes certain types of abuse. For example, you may think that being called a vulgar name is not as bad as being hit, or even more faulty, that being called a vulgar name does not even constitute an act of domestic violence. This chapter is intended to expose that lie, and discuss the dynamics involved in the abusive spouse's continuance of violence.
