Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Types of Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence Risk FactorsHow to Recognize Types of Domestic ViolenceHow to Get Help

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Common Types of Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Risk Factors

How to Recognize Types of Domestic Violence

How to Get Help

Domestic violence involves patterns of behavior that are used to gain and maintain power and control over an intimate partner.Sadly, domestic violence is a common occurrence; around 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men report experiencing severe physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner at some point during their lifetime.

Such abuse often involves romantic partners, but domestic violence can also affect children, elderly family members, or other relatives. Such incidents are referred to as family violence.

Of the many types of domestic violence, physical violence is often viewed as synonymous with domestic violence—its telltale signs offer easy markers of mistreatment. However, while other forms of abuse may not produce bodily harm, this doesn’t make their impact any less damaging.

At a GlanceDomestic violence is a serious and devastating problem that affects millions of people each year. Physical abuse is one of the most common types of domestic violence; however, emotional abuse, financial abuse, isolation, and stalking are also forms of domestic violence that abusers use to gain control over their victims. Learning more about some of the common types of domestic violence can give you the tools you need to recognize such abuse and take steps to get help if you think someone might be experiencing domestic violence.

At a Glance

Domestic violence is a serious and devastating problem that affects millions of people each year. Physical abuse is one of the most common types of domestic violence; however, emotional abuse, financial abuse, isolation, and stalking are also forms of domestic violence that abusers use to gain control over their victims. Learning more about some of the common types of domestic violence can give you the tools you need to recognize such abuse and take steps to get help if you think someone might be experiencing domestic violence.

When people hear the term ‘domestic violence,’ physical abuse is often their first thought. While physical abuse is certainly one of the most common types of domestic violence, it is important to remember that there are other forms of abuse that can also occur in intimate partner relationships.

Some of the most common forms of domestic violence include:

Physical Abuse

As we’ve seen, this is one of the most common type of domestic violence. It can take several forms, and may involve:

Other forms of physical abuse can include:

Sexual Abuse

Sexual assaultand rape are prevalent and sinister types of domestic violence in intimate relationships. Approximately 1.5 million women experience rape within their relationships every year—a staggering statistic.

The reported results of the 2022 National Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Survey found that women experience sexual assault more frequently than men. The survey found that one in four women and one in 26 men in the U.S. reported completed or attempted rape victimization in their lifetime.

Within the elderly population, approximately 2% experience physical assault, 1% live through sexual abuse, and 5% are subjected to neglect annually. Within the younger population, approximately 10% of children are exposed to domestic violence annually.

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Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuseis a type of domestic violence that uses words and actions to berate, embarrass, or otherwise tear down the self-esteem of another person. This abuse specifically targets the emotional and psychological well-being of a person.

Examples of emotional abuse include:

Unfortunately, emotional abuse is quite common. One study found 40% of women and 32% of men reported excessive aggression in their relationships. A further 41% of women and 43% of men gave accounts of coercive control from their partners.

Emotional abuse goes beyond intimate relationships. The spouses, children, and relatives of the elderly have contributed to a 5% emotional abuse rate within the older population.

In children—the terror, isolation, and ill-treatment experienced in early life have been linked withalcohol use problemsin later years.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuseis a type of domestic violence in which an abuser wields their influence over the economic resources in the relationship as a means to oppress their victim. This may appear as limiting or denying the victim access to funds. It may also be found where the victim is kept on an allowance or denied any say in how finances are dispersed.

A financial abuser may also blow through money earmarked for important household needs—this can be spent on frivolous expenses. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to this form of abuse. They are frequent victims of abusers who use their money without their knowledge or authorization.

Seniors may also have their signatures forged, funds misappropriated from their pensions, or even have a joint signatory abuse access to their account.

Isolation

One way for an abuser to maintain control over their partner is to keep them away from family, friends, or colleagues who may attempt to offer advice or protection against their victimizer.

Abusers often control who their victims can social with, which leaves the individual socially isolated. This ensures that their primary source of contact and support is their abusive partner.

In some cases, a person who is facing abuse may choose to avoid interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and other acquaintances for fear that they notice the bruising, cuts, and other injuries sustained in their relationships.

They may also resort to isolating themselves from loved ones to avoid their abuser’s reaction should they learn of a meeting. The victim may also simply choose to avoid their loved ones because of their abuser’s unmasked hatred towards them.

Stalking

Stalkingis a type of domestic violence that involves both emotional and psychological abuse. While anyone can experience stalking, statistics suggest that women are stalked at a higher rate than men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports than 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men are stalked at some point during their lives.

Explained simply, stalking is the persistent and unwanted pursuit of another person. This pursuit will typically lead the person on the receiving end to fear physical harm or death to themselves, their family, or other loved ones.

Stalking may occur during or after a relationship has ended. It includes terrorizing behavior like:

This form of abuse can be incredibly harmful to the victim, causing sleep difficulties, intense feelings of stress and anxiety, depression, anger, eating disorders, excessive feelings of vulnerability, and more.

There can never be a justification for abuse. However, to understand this phenomenon, it’s important to note that most abusers act in order to gain control over their victims.

This desire for control may stem from anger management issues, low self-esteem, jealousy, an inferiority complex, personality disorders, learned behavior, as well as from alcohol or substance abuse.

RecapAbusers use different types of domestic violence, including physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse, to assert control over their victims. Abuse may also come in the form of stalking or isolating a victim.

Recap

Abusers use different types of domestic violence, including physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse, to assert control over their victims. Abuse may also come in the form of stalking or isolating a victim.

Domestic violence wears many faces, some apparent, while others are less obvious. Some of the signs that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship include:

An abusive partner is controlling—whether it is through finances, gatekeeping who their partner can or cannot see, making frequent, sometimes unannounced calls or visits to a partner’s place of work to keep tabs. An abuser may also force their partner to participate in unwanted sexual acts.

Attempting to escape an abusive relationship can be a truly frightening ordeal. However, it is one that doesn’t need to be faced alone.

Here are steps to take after making the decision to leave the danger:

If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotlineat 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotlineat 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

In cases of immediate danger, 911 can be reached for help. If you suspect that a loved one is currently living in an abusive relationship, there aredifferent ways to offer supportlike setting up a safe time to discuss their circumstances, helping with their escape plan, sharing local domestic violence resources and centers with the victim, or calling emergency services to their rescue.

How to Find Domestic Violence Classes

Takeaway

Domestic violence is experienced at epidemic proportions the world over. Whether it is through overt acts of physical violence, or less easy to identify measures like emotional or financial abuse. Violence may also come in the form of stalking or isolating a partner in a relationship.

Domestic violence can have devastating effects on the physical and psychological well-being of a victim. Making the decision to leave an abusive situation can be incredibly difficult, but it is also tremendously brave.

There are multiple services ready to help with making that decision. If you or a loved one require help getting away from an abusive partner—local community centers, helplines, and emergency services can help to safely get you away from the danger, and on the right track to a secure life away from the abuser.

Best Domestic Violence Support Groups

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

United Nations.What Is Domestic Abuse?.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fast facts: Preventing intimate partner violence.

Huecker MR, King KC, Jordan GA, Smock W.Domestic Violence. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

Basile, K.C., et al.2016/2017 Report on Sexual Violence. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2022.

Karakurt G, Silver KE.Emotional Abuse in Intimate Relationships: The Role of Gender and Age.Violence Vict. 2013;28(5):804-821. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-12-00041

Shin SH, Lee S, Jeon SM, Wills TA.Childhood emotional abuse, negative emotion-driven impulsivity, and alcohol use in young adulthood.Child Abuse & Neglect. 2015;50:94-103. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.02.010

Wood S, Lichtenberg PA.Financial capacity and financial exploitation of older adults: Research findings, policy recommendations and clinical implications.Clin Gerontol. 2017;40(1):3-13. doi:10.1080/07317115.2016.1203382

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk and protective factors for perpetration.

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