Children grow up learning that it's okay to hurt other people or let other people hurt them. A third of all children who see their mothers beaten develop emotional problems. Boys who see their fathers beat their mothers are ten times more likely to be abusive in their adult intimate relationships. Everyone Has the Right to Feel Safe in a Relationship Domestic violence hurts all family members. When a person is abusive, he or she eventually loses the trust and respect of his or her partner.
Abused partners are afraid to communicate their feelings and needs.
With help, people who are abusive can learn to be non-violent. Disagreements develop from time to time in relationships. Domestic violence is not a disagreement. It is a whole pattern of behaviors used by one partner to establish and maintain power and control over the other. These behaviors can become more frequent and intense over time.