Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used by a person to establish and maintain coercive control over his intimate partner.
Domestic violence consists of physical, sexual, emotional, and social abuse.
Over time, the abusive behavior often becomes more frequent and severe. Battering is only a momentary loss of temper. The batterer uses acts of violence and a series of behaviors, including intimidation, threats, psychological abuse, isolation, etc. to coerce and to control the other person. About half the men who beat their wives do so at least 3 times per year. Battering is the major cause of injury to women, resulting in more injuries to women than auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined.