Hostages held for a period of time begin to identify with their captors. Women held hostage by batterers live with unending terror and stress, which wears away their ability to resist and leaves them confused, exhausted, and without the energy needed to make changes. Middle-class women don't get battered as frequently or as violently as poor women. Religious beliefs prevent battering. Pushing and shoving don't constitute battering.
Domestic violence is caused by alcohol.
Most women who are battered report that their men beat them regardless of whether he was drinking. Battered women can always leave. Copyright 2001 Contra Costa Crisis Center.