Domestic Violence

What is it?

Domestic Violence is a pattern of violent and coercive tactics committed by one intimate partner against the other.  It involves a pattern of learned behavior.  The actual or threatened violence may include physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal or financial abuse.

Domestic Violence perpetrators seek to control the thoughts, beliefs and conduct of their partner and may punish their partner for resisting control.  Domestic violence is a learned behavior.  

Domestic Violence is not caused by mental illness, genetics, drugs, alcohol, "out-of-control" behavior, anger, stress, problems in the relationship or because of any behavior of the victim.

Domestic violence is not the fault of the victim -- a victim of domestic violence should not be blamed.  He or she is a victim by the choice of the perpetrator, not as a result of the victim's own action or character.

There is no "face" of domestic violence.  Turning Point does not have a "typical client."  Domestic violence affects victims of all race, gender, religion, culture and socio-economic status.

Domestic violence takes on many forms. Here are a few of them:

• Physical violence

• Coercion

• Threats

• Intimidation

• Isolation

• Stalking

• Emotional abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Economic abuse

DV Facts

• In the United States, an average of 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually. 

• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner. 

• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically abused by an intimate partner.

• On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines nationwide receive approximately 20,800 calls.

• Occurs in all races, socio-economic backgrounds and types of relationships.

• An act of domestic violence occurs in the United States every 15 seconds.

• The approximate rate of domestic violence incident in relationships is 25-30%.

• The incidence rate is the same in both heterosexual & same-sex relationships.