WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

Bramwell House Central Violence Intervention Project What is domestic violence? Useful phone numbers

Domestic Violence is any form of abuse, violence or intimidation by a person in a relationship that aims to establish and maintain control over another person. It serves to keep a person in a state of fear.

Domestic Violence is not only physical abuse. It includes actual or threatened physical violence, verbal, emotional, social, financial and spiritual abuse and sexual assault.

Domestic Violence happens in all kinds of families from all different kinds of backgrounds.

Domestic Violence is in the majority of cases carried out by men against women.

Violence whether it happens inside or outside the family home is a criminal offence.

Cycle of Violence

Most perpetrators experience domestic violence as part of a cycle with different stages:

Build-up Phase:

The perpetrator’s behaviour escalates from controlling and abusive to increasingly threatening and violent as tension increases. The woman may feel like she is walking on eggshells.

Explosion:

The most dangerous part of the cycle. It can involve serious threats, physical and verbal assault, damaging property. Some men cite “loss of control” as an excuse for violence.

Remorse/Blame/Denial Phase:

After the violence the perpetrator often feels guilt, shame or remorse. Some will deny and play down their actions, or blame their partner or other factors.

Pursuit Phase:

The perpetrator may use charm or seduction, buy gifts or make more threats to get his partner back with promises to change.

Honeymoon Phase:

There may be a period of calm when things appear as if they have changed, but as pressure builds within the perpetrator for various reasons – thought patterns, work or family pressures – the cycle continues.