What is Intimate Partner Abuse (Domestic Violence)
Intimate Partner Abuse or Domestic violence (DV) as it is more commonly known, has extremely complex and more often than not, far-reaching effects on everyone involved (including the perpetrator). Living with physical or emotional abuse from an intimate partner can affect many different areas of a person's life, for example:
(i) physical well-being,
(ii) emotional well-being,
(iii) sexual engagement;
(iv) economic well-being;
(v) social status;
(vi) work performance;
(vii) engagement with family; and
(viii) parenting abilities.
The effects of intimate partner abuse may be compounded by additional factors such as citizenship, race, language, housing and disability. Children have varying degrees of involvement in the violence and abuse, and there are a number of ways they may be drawn into the abuse. Sometimes they are themselves subjected to verbal or physical abuse. And like an adult, they suffer in many different and complex ways.
While some perpetrators of intimate partner abuse minimise the situation by blaming or creating defenses and justifications, others are horrified by their behaviour and seek help to change. There is a need to use a range of techniques to intervene with intimate partner abuse – one size does not fit all. No two perpetrators are exactly the same in the type of abuse used, or the reasons for abuse.
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If you are a perpetrator wanting to end violence or abuse towards a partner, check out the INPAVITE Programme which is designed to support individuals wanting to understand their behaviour and work towards change in their relationship.
Not sure if you are being abusive towards a partner, click HERE to take the INPAVITE Self Test, find out how abusive your relationship is today.