One third of all women in relationships are regularly abused. An abusive relationship is one marked by the use of P ower to I ntimidate and C ontrol. An abuser is afraid of abandonment. Abusers use power to isolate and cause the victim to be afraid of leaving.
Abuse tends to get worse over time with different tactics used at different times.
Early in the relationship the need to control may be missed because this will seem like intense love. But even in the beginning control can be seen by the man's intense infatuation and jealousy. Over time abuse becomes more frequent. There will be acute incidents with a show of physical or emotional force. This will be followed by a period where the abuser apologizes and promises never to do this again, often giving gifts and wanting to be intimate.