WUNRN
Dating
violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to exert power and control over
a dating partner.
Calling
dating violence a pattern doesn't mean the first instance of abuse is not
dating violence. It just recognizes that dating violence usually involves a
series of abusive behaviors over a course of time. Here is a model of how it
works:
|
Things start to get tense between a teen and their dating
partner. |
|
Honeymoon
The abuser apologizes, trying to make up with his or her
partners and to shift the blame for the explosion to someone or something
else. |
|
Explosion
There is an outburst of violence that can include intense
emotional, verbal, sexual and/or physical abuse. |
Every
relationships is different, but the one thing that is common to most abusive
dating relationships is that the violence escalates over time and becomes more
and more dangerous for the young victim.
The
definition also points out that at the core of dating violence are issues of power and control. The
diagram details how violent words and actions are tools an abusive partner uses
to gain and maintain power and control over his or her partner.
"Partner"
might mean different things to different people, particularly across
generations. The relationship may be sexual, but it does not have to be. It may
be serious or casual, monogamous or not, short-term or long-term. The important
thing to remember is that dating violence occurs within an intimate
relationship.
Teens and
young adults experience the same types of abuse in relationships as adults.
This can include:
·
Physical abuse: any intentional use of physical force with the intent to
cause fear or injury, like hitting, shoving, biting, strangling, kicking or
using a weapon
·
Emotional abuse: non-physical behaviors such as threats, insults,
constant monitoring, humiliation, intimidation, isolation or stalking
·
Sexual abuse: any action that impacts a person’s ability to control
their sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs,
including rape, coercion or restricting access to birth control