Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior that one person uses to gain and maintain power and control over another, usually an intimate partner. Tactics may include physical, sexual, emotional, economic abuse, and isolation.
Other terms often used for domestic violence are “intimate partner violence” and “battering.”
Domestic violence does not consist of isolated violent incidents, but is rather a pattern of abusive strategies that impacts all aspects of a victim’s life. It can continue for a long time, often escalates in severity, and may even end in homicide.
If you or someone you know is being abused, please call the NewStory Center 24/7 crisis hotline at 802-775-3232.
Abuse can happen to anyone—and once abuse starts, it almost always happens again and usually gets worse over time.