A person who is abusive cannot be a loving partner.
When they are not being abusive, abusers are often described as loving, playful, affectionate, attentive, and sensitive partners.
Relationship violence occurs in a small percentage of relationships.
It is estimated that relationship violence occurs in ¼ to ⅓ of all intimate relationships. 1 in 5 college students reported some form of physical violence and abuse in their dating relationships.
Relationship violence is a private matter.
Rather than being a personal problem, relationship violence has significant effects on individuals and on the entire community.
The target of the violence must be doing something to provoke the violence.
There are problems within any relationship, but it is never acceptable to use violence. Relationship violence is a tactic that an individual chooses to use in an attempt to exert power over and control their partner. The target of the violence is never to blame for the choice an abuser makes to use violence against a partner.
Alcohol and substance abuse are major causes of relationship violence.
Contrary to popular belief, relationship violence is not caused by alcohol use or stress. The only true cause of relationship violence is the abuser's choice to act violently. Abusers use drinking as one of many excuses for their violence and as a way to place the responsibility for their violence elsewhere. Stopping the abuser’s drinking will not stop the violence. Both intimate partner abuse and substance abuse need to be addressed separately, as overlapping yet independent problems.
People who are abusive in their intimate relationships are violent in all of their relationships.
Most abusers do not use violence at the workplace or in other non-intimate relationships to solve conflict. Abusive partners choose to be violent toward their partners in ways they would never consider treating other people. Abuse occurs when the abuser exerts power and control over another.
Abusers are unable to control their behavior.
Violent behavior is a choice. Abusers use violence to control their partners. Relationship violence is a result of abusers using control, not losing control. Their actions are very deliberate. Abusers choose to be violent toward their partners in ways they would never consider treating other people.
Stress is a major cause of relationship violence.
Everyone experiences stress in their lives at some point, but the reality is that not everyone is abusive toward their partners. In other words, relationship violence is not caused by stress. The only true cause of relationship violence is the abuser’s choice to act violently.
Relationship violence is more common in heterosexual relationships than in LGBT relationships.
Members of the LGBT community are less likely to report incidents of relationship violence; however, it is estimated that 1 in 4 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are abused by a partner. All statistical data and estimates of LGBT domestic violence are proportionate to heterosexual domestic violence statistics.
Relationship violence occurs most often among low-income families.
Studies of domestic violence consistently have found that partner abuse occurs among all types of families, regardless of income, profession, region, ethnicity, educational level, or race. However, the fact that lower income victims and abusers are over-represented in calls to police, domestic violence shelters, and social services may be due to a lack of other resources.
The violence can’t really be that serious.
Relationship violence is rarely a one-time occurrence and usually increases in frequency and severity. All forms of relationship violence, including verbal abuse, can have serious effects on the health and well-being of the person who is targeted by the violence.
Someone who is targeted by violence should just leave the relationship.
The decision to end a relationship is not an easy one. There are many reasons that can lead an individual to stay in a relationship with someone who is abusing them. In most cases, the abuser is not always abusive.
