What exactly is meant by the term Domestic Violence?
When most people hear the term “domestic violence,” they often assume some physical abuse is occurring. According to experts, domestic violence is measured by fear and not just physical violence. It is perhaps best understood as any abusive behavior that occurs within the home, whether the abuse is physical, emotional, psychological, financial, or even sexual abuse. Often, the abuse is a combination of two or more of these factors. The abuse can be verbal abuse in the form of humiliation, controlling behavior, withholding of finances, isolation, belittling behavior, and unwarranted criticism. Domestic violence can escalate into the threat of violence and intimidation, or it can cross into physical abuse, sexual abuse, or in extreme cases, rape. The abuse can be against a spouse, a domestic partner, a child or other family member, or any other person in the household. In each instance, however, the abuse involves intentional behavior on the perpetrator’s part as a way of exercising power and control over the victim.