Types of Domestic Violence

WEAVE identifies various types of domestic violence. All of these types of abuse are done for the purpose of gaining power and control over the victim. These types of abuse are different but are often inflicted upon a victim in various combinations.

Physical Abuse

Physical Abuse is the use of physical force against another person in a way that ends up injuring the person, or puts the person at risk of being injured.

• Does your partner push, hit or choke you?
• Does your partner threaten to hurt you with a weapon?

Emotional Abuse

Emotional Abuse can be verbal or nonverbal.

• Does your partner continually criticize you, call you names?
• Does your partner make all decisions for you?

Financial Abuse

Financial Abuse may include withholding resources, stealing from the victim, or using the victims name to incur debt.

• Does your partner force you to work, or refuse to let you work?
• Do you feel financially dependent on your partner?

Sexual Abuse

Sexual Abuse is often linked to physical abuse; they may occur together, or the sexual abuse may occur after a bout of physical abuse

• Does your partner minimize the importance of your feelings about sex?
• Does your partner force unwanted sex acts?

Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual Abuse is anything that comes in the way of you doing something or feeling good about yourself.

• Does your partner not allow you to practice your morals/religious beliefs or culture/values?
• Do you feel that you have given up things that are important you?

Technological Abuse

Technological Abuse is the use of technologies such as texting and social networking to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate a partner. Often this behavior is a form of verbal or emotional abuse perpetrated online.

• Cell phone calls and texting at unimaginable frequency means constant control day and night
• Controlling passwords and financial accounts
• Controlling social media accounts or using social media to monitor
• GPS tracking
• Making threats to use social media against partner