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DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE
Battering:
Assaulting behavior between adults in
an intimate, sexual, theoretically peer, and cohabitating relationship. There
are four forms of battering: physical, sexual, psychological, and destruction of
property or pets.
Physical:
Wide range of behaviors that include aggressive
behaviors inflicted by the abuser on the victim’s body. Examples are:
pushing, hitting, pulling hair, pinching, pounding, spitting, choking,
shooting, stabbing, kicking, burning, clubbing, etc. (These are
examples only, not an exhaustive
list)
Sexual:
Involves aggressive sexual acts against the victim’s body. Examples are: unwanted
pinching of breasts, buttocks, genitals; sexual activity accompanied by physical
assaults; forced sexual activity, etc. (These are examples only, not an
exhaustive list).
Psychological: No
contact with the victim’s body; psychological weapons rather than physical
attacks; occurs in context of a relationship where physical violence has already
occurred. Both psychological and emotional abuse, more than verbal arguments,
can be compared to brainwashing; the systematic destruction of a person’s
self-worth through harassment; the deprivation of food and sleep. Examples are:
threats of suicide or deportation, custody fights over children, forcing victims
to do degrading acts, controlling victim’s activities such as sleep, eating
habits, social relationship, access to money, etc., and constantly attacks
victim’s self-esteem.
Destruction of Property or Pets:
No contact with the victim’s body, but damage
to the victim nonetheless. Destruction is not random and not merely
“ventilation”. Examples are: destroying objects during arguments, breaking
victim’s favorite possessions, attacks on her pets, etc. (These are examples
only, not an exhaustive list)
Similarities of the Four Forms of Battering:
-
Is done without concern for the victim’s
mental or physical well-being.
-
Is done to
show dominance over, control, or “punish” the victim
-
Is recurrent,
often escalates in severity and frequency.
THE CYCLE
THEORY OF VIOLENCE
PHASE ONE: THE TENSION-BUILDING
PHASE
During this
stage, “minor” battering may occur. The victim usually attempts to calm the
situation by using previously successful means. She often blames herself for the
batterer’s violent behavior. The victim feels that if she does the right things,
the incident will be over and, if he explodes, she assumes the guilt. At this
stage, the tension increases and the victim is unable to maintain the situation.
The batterer is aware that his behavior is not socially acceptable and normally
confines it to the home. He is afraid that she will leave and, therefore,
becomes more demanding, jealous, and possessive in the hope that his brutality
will force her to stay.
PHASE
TWO: THE SERIOUS BATTERING INCIDENT
This phase is characterized
by the uncontrollable discharge of tension that has built up in Phase One. The
cause of Phase Two is not the victim’s behavior, but is attributable to some
external event or the internal state of the batterer. The victim’s defense at
this time is to have the batterer or herself removed from the home. The victim
generally suffers emotional collapse after the incident, with symptoms of
tiredness and feelings of helplessness.
PHASE THREE: KINDNESS AND CONTRITE LOVING BEHAVIOR BY
THE BATTERER
This phase is characterized
by loving and kind behavior by the batterer. He knows he has gone too far and is
trying to make up for his actions. The batterer states he’ll never hurt her
again and that he can control himself. This is the phase in which the victimization
of the woman becomes complete.
Source: Walker,
Lenora E. The Battered Woman, New York: Harper & Row, Publishers 1979
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