What is Abuse?
Many times you will hear, "I am not abused." or "I am not a victim of domestic violence." We have provided definitions and information below to see what abuse is, how it occurs and how Denton County Friends of the Family is here to help.
Types of Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
An intentional pattern of behavior one uses to gain & maintain power and control over a person with whom they are in a relationship or were previously in a relationship, also known as Domestic Violence.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of forced, coerced, and/or unwanted sexual activity – doesn’t always involve physical contact.
About power & control, not sex.
People can be sexually assaulted by friends, acquaintances, dating partners, spouses, parents, strangers, etc.
Stalking
Stalking is a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Combines criminal and noncriminal behaviors, including:
- Surveillance
- Life invasion
- Interference
- Intimidation
Stalking is a crime of power and control.
Physical
Any use of size, strength, or presence to control or hurt another person
(using weapons, strangulation, restraining, slamming doors)
Verbal
Any use of voice or tone to control or hurt another person
(sarcasm, yelling, cursing)
Emotional
Any use of emotions to control or hurt another person
(jealousy, isolation, threats)
Financial
Any use of financial control to hurt another person
(withholding money, stealing money, restricting finances, not allowing someone to work)
Technological
Any use of technology to control or hurt another person
(sending threatening messages, tracking location without someone’s permission, sending explicit images of someone)
