1. Dating and Domestic Violence

2. Domestic Violence
Using violent, threatening behaviors and action to intimidate/control another person
Power and Control over someone else
Four Categories:
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Financial Abuse

3. Physical Abuse
Using force to physically inflict pain or dominance over the significant other
Ex. being slapped, punched, or even murdered
Abusers want control over the person. Not necessarily to hurt the person.
Looking for dominance in the relationship

4. Sexual Abuse
Committing sexual acts against someone’s free will due to force, inflicted injury, or lowered inhibitions (alcohol/drugs)
Treats the other person as an object, not a loved one
Two Forms
Spousal Sexual Abuse – forced sex or rape against a partner’s free will
Child Sexual Abuse – sex without consent with someone whom is under the age of 16 (age of consent for the state of Montana)
50% of child abusers were abused as a child
Before the age of 18, 1 in 6 girls and 1 in 10 boys experience some form of sexual abuse

5. Emotional Abuse
Abuser routinely insults, belittles, mocks, harasses, or intimidates partner with words or gestures
Ex. – threats of physical harm, humiliating, giving the “silent treatment”, consistently pointing out mistakes
Results in psychological trauma - anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder

6. Financial Abuse
Common for abuser to gain power through limiting spouse or significant other to finances
Holds them hostage by limiting access to information and assets within the family
Ex. Forced career choices, no bank accounts, threats of leaving, forced family-child bearing every year

7. Cycle of Violence Victim is trapped in downward spiral of the cycle
Victim is isolated, immobilized and scared
As violence escalates in intensity and frequency, time between phases becomes shorter
Broken into Three Phases:
Tension Phase
Crisis Phase
Calm Phase

8. Tension Phase
May last for weeks or months, victim senses growing danger
Stress builds and communication breaks down
May include arguments, emotional abuse, or minor physical abuse (grabbing/pushing)

9. Crisis Phase Lasts from 2-24 hours or a few days
Anxiety extremely high and major violence occurs (explosive/unpredictable)
Abuser blames victim
Victim may escape, return once crisis is over

10. Calm Phase May last for days or weeks
Abuser will justify actions and blame victim or may never explain violence
Victim worn down, accepts promises if offered, and forced to believe the violence won’t recur

11. Why do people stay? Make light of the abuse
Victim blames self for the abuse
Hopelessness – never be able to find partner who treats you any better
Embarrassment/Shame – worried what others will think
Fear – threatened to hurt or kill you
Guilt – partner makes you feel guilty if you were to leave
Children – feel it’s the best to stay together for the kids
Any others you can think of??

12. Ray Rice Incident
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13. Interview with Wife
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