Twenty-five percent of victims are first battered during pregnancy, most by blows to the stomach. Violence takes many forms Domestic violence is a pattern of controlling behaviors. Anyone can be abusive. Anyone can be abused. Domestic violence cuts across all racial, ethnic, gender, educational, religious, and socio-economic lines.
Domestic violence tends to progress over time, increasing in frequency, severity and lethality.
The violence is unlikely to stop without intervention. Just witnessing family violence victimizes children, often resulting in feelings of guilt, helplessness, anger, fear, confusion, low self-esteem and stress. Many children raised in violent homes grow up to be abusers or victims. Tolerating abuse gives children the idea that family violence is okay. This may unconsciously encourage children to seek abusive relationships when they reach adulthood.