Relationship Violence

Behavioral Definition of Domestic Violence:

A pattern of abusive and coercive behaviors, including physical, sexual and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion, that adult and adolescents use to control their intimate partners.

Forms of Abuse

Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause pain, injury, or other physical suffering or harm.

Sexual Abuse is the forcing of unwanted sexual activity by one person on another, by the use of threats or coercion.

Emotional abuse refers to a long-term situation in which one person uses his or her power or influence, to adversely affect the mental well-being of another. Emotional abuse can appear in a variety of forms, including rejection, isolation, exploitation, and terror.

Legal Definition of Domestic Violence:

Includes physical harm, bodily injury, assault, stalking, sexual assault OR inflicting fear of imminent bodily harm, bodily injury or assault between family or household members.

Warning Signs of Abusive Behavior

Early signs of abuse include:

• Possessiveness
• Extreme Jealousy
• Isolates you from family and friends
• Attempts to control your behavior
• Expects perfection
• Always blames you for problems
• Holds you responsible for whatever is wrong
• Cruelty to animals or children
• Expects sex roles to be rigid
• Explodes in anger
• Continues a cycle of tension, abuse, and apologies

If you're in immediate danger, call 911 NOW!

Women’s Center at Shoreline Community College
Location: Rm. 4106, Lower Level, Library
Program Manager:  Lynette Peters
Telephone: 206-546-4715
Address: 16101 Greenwood Ave N., Shoreline, WA 98133
E-Mail: lpeters@shoreline.edu

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