Teen dating violence mirrors adult domestic violence in terms of it existing on a continuum of controlling behaviors. These behaviors range from verbal and emotional abuse, to physical assault, to murder and rape. In addition, teen dating violence is seen by some as a stage in the intergenerational cycle of violence, linking witnessing or experiencing violence during childhood to perpetrating or experiencing intimate violence in adulthood. Abusive teen dating relationships, similar to adult domestic violence, generally exhibit a pattern. Young people may perceive possessive jealousy and controlling behavior as loving devotion.
Teens are reluctant to seek help from adults.
They fear, rightly or wrongly, that if they tell someone about the abuse they will be seen as having done something wrong. They may also fear that newly won privileges of independence will be taken away. In addition, academic progress is often hindered. To promote a safe school environment that is free of dating violence, a comprehensive school response is necessary. To assist schools in developing comprehensive responses to the issue of teen dating violence, the Department of Education offers the following recommendations.