At the root of all abusive relationships is the desire of one partner to control the other. It is this desire that leads the abuser to use physical and emotional force to gain power. There is a common myth that abuse is only battery. Abuse is more.
Abuse is when there is a pattern of physical and emotional attacks.
Physical abuse is defined as any attempt to hurt or frighten one's partner with physical force, while emotional abuse includes any attempt to put one's partner down or make the partner feel unworthy. Listed below are signs of Domestic Violence. The following list identifies a series of behaviors typically demonstrated by batterers and abusive people. Use this checklist to identify if you or someone you know has this problem. The more checks, the more dangerous the situation may be.