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Control, Fear, and Intimidation in a Relationship Equates to Domestic Violence

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Relationship violence, also known as domestic violence, occurs when one person in the relationship uses violence to control, instill fear, intimidate, and hurt the other person. This type of violence is a serious problem. It happens to individuals of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. It occurs in heterosexual relationships, as well as same-sex relationships. It can occur while the individuals are still involved, during a break-up, or when the relationship has come to an end. Most people who hear that there is violent, abusive behavior in a relationship think it is the man that is committing this type of behavior, but it can be committed by either the man or woman. According to U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice …show more content…

77); "behaviors that can be used to terrorize the victim. . .that do not involve the use of physical force" (Shepard & Campbell, 1992, p. 291); the "direct infliction of mental harm" and "threats or limits to the victim's well-being" (Gondolf, 1987), and ". . . an ongoing process in which one individual systematically diminishes and destroys the inner self of another.
Sexual abuse is the act of forcing someone to participate in forceful, unwanted sexual activity. It could be in the form of intercourse, anal or oral sex, or penetration with an object. Sexual abuse is often associated with physical abuse; they may happen at the same time, or the sexual abuse may occur after the individual is physically abused (Benedictis, Jaffe, Segal, 2012).
Physical violence is inflicted with the intent to hurt someone physically. There are several forms of physical violence. These include grabbing, pushing, hair pulling, slapping, hitting, biting, kicking, choking, and hitting with objects. In some cases the person is threatened with a gun or knife or had a gun or knife used on them. Physical violence is astonishingly common among couples today. In a survey taken in 1995 and 1996 (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998), 8,000 women and men were asked about experiencing any physical violence during relationships and 52% of women and 66% of men stated they had been physically abused.
The effects of abuse and violence can be long lasting. Individuals that are

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