Awareness: The first step to social and societal change.
At SafePlace, we believe that increased awareness can help all of us protect our family and friends. We hope the following will offer information to help identify and better understand domestic violence.
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence (intimate partner violence, relationship abuse) is a pattern of assaultive, coercive, dominating, and punishing behaviors perpetrated by one intimate partner to another.
Abusers use a variety of tactics, not just physical violence, to control a victim’s behavior or make them feel less than. Tactics can include physical, sexual, and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion.
Washington State defines domestic violence in RCW 26.50 as:
This definition guides the police and courts in their actions. In addition to this, SafePlace’s definition recognizes that physical violence does not always need to occur for abuse to be present. Abuse can be subtle and emotional abuse can have long-term damage to a person’s self-esteem, taking longer to heal than a physical injury.
Abusers use a variety of tactics, not just physical violence, to control a victim’s behavior or make them feel less than. Tactics can include physical, sexual, and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion.
Washington State defines domestic violence in RCW 26.50 as:
- Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, between family or household members.
- Sexual assault of one family or household member by another; or
- Stalking as defined in RCW 9A.46.110 of one family or household member by another family or household member.
This definition guides the police and courts in their actions. In addition to this, SafePlace’s definition recognizes that physical violence does not always need to occur for abuse to be present. Abuse can be subtle and emotional abuse can have long-term damage to a person’s self-esteem, taking longer to heal than a physical injury.
Why does this happen?
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We learn about relationships from representations around us. If violence existed in our family of origin, we often use that model in developing relationships with others. Sometimes that means a person will model an abusive person. Domestic violence is a learned behavior and can be unlearned. Although these can run concurrent and influence abuse, domestic violence is not caused by anger, psychological problems, drugs and alcohol, or other common assumptions.
What we see in the media, on T.V., in magazines, and in music videos also has a tremendous influence on our actions and how we play out relationships. These factors also contribute to a culture of violence that supports things like domestic violence and rape. |
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What does a HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP look like?
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Relationships are partnerships with equal commitment of the people involved. This wheel illustrates some of the vital pieces to nurturing equality in relationships. It is important to find a balance between respecting your partner’s opinion and getting what you need out of a relationship. |
Non-fatal Strangulation
A SafePlace advocate will be available to support you during your exam and to provide additional resources and safety planning.
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50% of non-fatal strangulation survivors have no visible signs of strangulation. Symptoms of strangulation can show up many days or weeks later. Some of these symptoms include
neck pain ringing in ears memory loss sore throat vision problems St. Peters Hospital provides exams if you are a victim of strangulation. |
