Abusers may threaten to harm the victim or the children or to commit suicide. Such threats add to the anxiety and fear experienced by survivors and children. Abusers also threaten to kill or harm those in the immediate family, relatives and close friends. They are intrusive, wanting always to know what the woman is thinking, feeling or doing and are possessive and jealous of her relationships with others. Abusers often control what their partners do, whom they see and where they go.
Many abusers feel very threatened by anyone with whom their partners have contact.
Continuing expression of severe jealousy and frequent accusations serve to limit the woman's conduct with other men and women. Family violence can affect you as an attorney through your clients, your employees and colleagues in the workplace, and your private life with friends and family. Because of this, the legal community needs to be educated not only on the effects of family violence, but also how to prevent or intervene in situations of family violence or abuse.