- Children are present during 80 to 87% of family violence episodes

 

- There is a 30 to 40% overlap between children who witness abuse and children who

experience direct  physical abuse themselves.

- A recent study reveals that in 1 out of 4 domestic violence incidents, the children are also hurt or threatened

- Serious behavior problems are 17 times higher for boys and 10 times higher for girls who have witnessed battering

- In one study, over 50% of young offenders charged with crimes against people were found to have  been exposed to domestic violence as children

- Statistics show that 60 to 80% of males witnessing partner abuse will become abusers themselves; 20 to 30% of females will become victims.

-Violent behavior is learned.  Some studies indicate that between 40 to 60% of abusive men witness wife assault during their childhood.

Children have choices and they can unlearn their behavior.  If children are given a lot of understanding and support, they can break the cycle of violence.

types of Abuse:

physical abuse:

* hitting, slapping, punching, choking

* kicking, spitting, pinching, hair pulling

* burning, shooting, stabbing

* physical neglect through denial of food

or medication

* rough handling or confinement

Emotional/Psychological Abuse:

* constant yelling or screaming

* excessive jealousy

* name calling, insults, threats, humiliation

 or criticism

* isolation from friends, neighbors, and

 or FAMILY

* depriving a woman of love and affection

 ( withholding affection)

* making fun of activities or talents

* twisting reality to make you think

you are CRAZY!

* saying things like you are just like

your Mother or Father

* not letting you sleep, eat, or

use the washroom

* threatening to hurt themselves,

you or someone else

* sulking or using the SILENT TREATMENT

* scaring by intimidation -

* driving too fast or recklessly

* smashing or breaking things

* controlling your activities like: 

who you see or what you do

needing to know where you are

at all times and how long

you will be there, setting time limits for you!

* partner plays with a weapon,

threatens to kill you

 

Sexual Abuse:

* UNWANTED sexual touching

* sexual harassment or sexual exploitation

* forcing you to participate in UNWANTED,

UNSAFE, DEGRADING or OFFENSIVE

sexual activity: possibly with

other partners

* FORCED to watch pornography or be

the focus of sexual jokes

* embarrassed or insulted in front of others

* you are the subject of unfounded

jealousy or accusations

* CONTROLLING  a woman's reproductive choices

 

Destruction of Property or Pets:

* the attack is not done to you but it is meant

 to cause fear, shame, and submission by

destroying your personal items, clothing,

or things that mean a lot to you

like a family heirloom!

* hurt or kill a pet that belongs to you

or your family

* (Utah study) - 71% of battered women with

 pets reported that their animals had been

 threatened, harmed or killed by their abusers

* (another study) found more than 60%

 of the Shelter Directors reported

that children had disclosed pets being

hurt or killed

Social, Economic & Financial Abuse:

* partner controls the family money, makes you

 ask for money, gives you an allowance of

their choice

* may prevent you from getting or keeping a job

* cause you to ask for every cent and not allow

 you to know how much money you have as a couple

* controlling your occupational choices

* causing you to cosign bank loans without

any understanding or against your wishes

* partner puts you down or ignores you in

public and controls who you see or what you do

* partner spends family money on ADDICTIONS

 

Ritual and Spiritual Abuse:

* preventing you from participating in

spiritual or religious practices

* ridiculing your beliefs

* using spiritual beliefs to justify

CONTROLLING YOU!

* partner forces you to participate

in or witness rituals that

YOU DO NOT WISH TO TAKE PART IN!