Resource Corner

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic Violence, also known as Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been defined as a pattern of coercive control consisting of physical, psychological and/or sexual assaults against current or former intimate partner.

It often begins with isolation, jealousy, threats or name-calling and may include emotional, sexual or verbal abuse. It can progress to physical violence like pushing, hitting and kicking. And, it may escalate and results in serious injuries, hospitalization and even death.

Abuse crosses all barriers of age, income, culture, religion, education and race. Domestic violence between partners happens in all kinds of relationships - husbands and wives, dating or live-in partners, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender partners. Anyone can be a domestic violence victim.

The abusive behavior frequently follows a three phase cycle that intensifies with each incident.

• Tension Building: increased anger, blaming, verbal abuse.
• Battering: acts of violence, forced sex, extreme psychological abuse, withholding of basic needs
• Honeymoon: temporary changes in behavior, apologies, gifts, promises to never be abusive again, to obtain counseling or to give up alcohol and or drugs

Why Should We Care?

...because we care for WOMEN

• Every year, in the United States, 4 MILLION women are believed to be battered by their intimate partners. i.e., 1 incident occurs every 15 seconds. (The Commonwealth Fund, 1993)
• 1 in 4 women will be subjected to IPV, at some point in life. (Family Violence Prevention Fund, 1998)
• 1 in 6 women will be subjected to IPV when pregnant. (Family Violence Prevention Fund, 1998)
• 30% of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her intimate partner in the past year. (Lieberman Research, Inc., 1995)
• 95% of all domestic violence is male to female. (The American Medical Association, 1992)

...because we care for CHILDREN

• Every year, approximately 3.3 million children (3-17 years) are at risk of exposure to parental violence.
• 70% of men who abuse their female partners also abuse their children.
• Child abuse is 15 times more likely to occur in families where domestic violence is present. (Stacy, W. and Shupe A. 1993)
• More than 50% of child abductions result from domestic violence.
• Among children who witness abuse, 40% suffer anxiety, 48% suffer depression, 53% act out with parents, 60% act out with siblings.
• Become a batterer himself.

...because we care for FAMILIES

• 8.7 Million Americans couples (nearly one in six) experience violence and 3.4 Million experience severe violence.
• 25% of all homicides in the United States are caused by a husband or wife.
• 50% of victims murdered by a spouse or lover were seen in a hospital emergency department but not screened for domestic violence.
• Violence by husbands occur in more than 50% of couples seeking marital therapy.
• Family violence costs the nation $ 5-10 Billion annually in medical expenses, police and court cases, shelters and foster care, sick leave, absenteeism and non-productivity. $2.5 billion of health insurance benefits are spent on injuries resulting from domestic violence. (Governor's Task Force on Family Violence, 1991)
• A large majority of Employee Assistance Program providers surveyed have dealt with specific partner abuse situations in the past year, including an employee with a protection order (83%) or an employee being stalked at work by a current or former partner (71%). (Isaac, Nancy E., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University School of Public Health, 1997)