Domestic Abuse

What is it?

Domestic and family violence / abuse is a pattern of behaviour within a family, where one person uses power and control over another person in a way that causes fear.  This can include behaviours that threaten, frighten, intimidate, humiliate or physically harm another person.

Women often describe their experience as “walking on eggshells”. They can feel trapped, ashamed, and confused.

Family relationships can include:
  • Current or former intimate relationships
  • Carer and guardian relationships
  • LGBTQI+ Family members
  • Extended family groups (eg CALD community)
Controlling and manipulative behaviours include:
  • Physical
  • Sexual
  • Emotional
  • Psychological
  • Spiritual
  • Social
  • Financial
  • Technology facilitated abuse

Some quick facts:

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Source

Coercive control is often a significant part of a person’s experience of family and domestic violence and describes someone’s use of abusive behaviours against another person over time.

This emotional manipulation has the effect of establishing and maintaining power and dominance over them. Entrapment. A focus on coercive control reflects a shift from isolated incidents (primarily physical violence) to a recognition that a perpetrator can us a broad pattern of behaviour over a period of time to reinforce power and control over another person.  It is form of entrapment.

Domestic and family violence / abuse can happen to anyone irrespective of age, race, sexual orientation, religion, gender, socioeconomic background or education level.