The court system takes domestic violence very seriously. If found guilty of a related civil or criminal offense, you may have to take court approved domestic violence classes online or face other penalties.
However, domestic violence can also be a confusing term because many of the behaviors involved do not seem violent or physical in nature. Nevertheless, they are considered harmful or abusive to another person, which means they can be included under the wider umbrella of domestic violence.
1. Verbal Abuse
Verbal abuse involves using words in a violent way. This may involve yelling or screaming or making specific threats against the individual, his or her reputation, or those close to the individual, such as family or pets. Another form that verbal abuse can take is calling the individual by offensive names or putting down his or her appearance.
2. Emotional Abuse
There can be some overlap between verbal abuse and emotional abuse. The latter involves exploiting the insecurity or vulnerability of the individual. This can involve verbal threats or insults but it can also involve behavior such as gaslighting, which is taking steps to distort the other individual’s sense of reality to sow self-doubt. Emotional abuse can also involve preventing an individual from practicing religious beliefs or forcing him or her to take alcohol or drugs. Wordless gestures or actions intending to humiliate the victim is another form of nonverbal emotional abuse.
3. Financial/Economic Abuse
Controlling the family finances is a way to exert control over someone … Read More
