1. Types of Abusive Behavior
Physical Abuse
Psychological Abuse
Emotional
Verbal
Sexual Abuse

2. Physical (Straus & Gelles, 1990)
Examples:
using objects or one’s body to hit, kick, push, bite, shoot, stab, or strangle another person

3. Psychological (Verbal)
Includes:
name calling, derogatory slang terms (e.g., “bitch”), criticizing, swearing
Goal is (intent: direct & immediate harm)

4. Psychological (Emotional)
Verbal/nonverbal,
Includes communication or behaviors directed at victim, beloved objects, or third parties (e.g., pets or children):
Humiliation
Degradation
withdrawal or silent treatment
contingent expressions of love or affection
vague or specific threats of destruction, violence, and/or death
social isolation & intention to weaken support systems
induced debility (e.g., limiting food or sleep)
forced substance abuse
Financial control
relational obsessiveness or possessiveness
controlling perceptions of reality, such as crazy making behaviors
Goal  –

5. Sexual (physical contact) or (sexual harm) (Wiehe, 1998)
Contact sexual abuse
Non-contact sexual abuse
Typically studied separately…

6. Violence vs. Abuse
VIOLENCE
ABUSE

7. Locations for Violence
Couple violence
Heterosexual (M to W, W to M*)
Homosexual
Family violence
Adolescent-to-parent abuse*
Sibling violence*
Child abuse
Senior-abuse

8. Historically… Child Victimization Wife Abuse
Courtship Violence & Date Rape
Elder Abuse
Adolescent-to-parent abuse
Husband abuse

9. Today… Intimate Partner Violence
8.5 million cases (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000)
5.3 female victims
3.2 male victims
Child Abuse
In one year (2007), 794,000 victims of abuse/neglect (Child Maltreatment, 2007)
59% neglect
10.8% physically
7.6% sexually
4.2% emotionally/psychologically
< 1% medically neglected
13.1% of all child victims - "other" types maltreatment (e.g., abandonment, threats of harm, congenital drug addiction)
Adolescent-to-Parent Abuse
18% of population (severe physical at least once/year) (Straus, Gelles, Steinmetz, 1980)
Goes up to 29% for one-parent families
Sibling Abuse
Most prevalent form (Straus & Gelles, 1988)
800 out of 1000 hit bro or sis
More than ½ engage in severe violence
Two-thirds (66.6%) ages assault sibling at least once
Elder Abuse (NCEA, 2005)
1 - 2 million Americans (age 65 or older) – by “protectors”
2% to 10% of population