Five Types of Domestic Violence

 Posted on November 06, 2017 in Family Law

Domestic violence occurs when an individual(s) is abused by someone who is their relative, cohabiter, or significant other. Domestic violence can occur between parents, spouses or former spouses, individuals in dating or engagement relationships, cohabitants, or former cohabitants.

In Illinois, domestic violence is considered to be a serious crime and a violent offense that comes with severe penalties such as prison time and fines. The five different types of domestic violence include:

1. Physical Abuse

Slapping, hitting, pushing, stabbing, throwing objects, and biting are all examples of physical abuse. Physical abuse often leads to severe pain, injuries, sickness, and in some cases, death.

2. Sexual Abuse

Sexual assault such as rape, molestation, and unwanted or inappropriate touching is another form of domestic violence when it is committed by a significant other or a family member.

3. Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse may involve calling you names, putting you down, blaming you for issues that you have no control over, making you feel worthless, humiliating you, and laughing at you when you are crying or feeling down. It is a form of domestic violence that often lasts for weeks, months, and even years.

4. Psychological Abuse

Isolating you from the people you love, blackmail, cyber bullying, telling you lies to turn your loved ones against you, and threatening to commit suicide if you fail to do what is asked of you are all examples of psychological abuse. Just like emotional abuse, psychological abuse typically persists for a significant period of time.

5. Financial Abuse

When your family, romantic partner, or household member withholds your own money from you, forces you to be the sole breadwinner, only provides you with an inadequate allowance, or makes it impossible for you to access your financial information, you are experiencing financial abuse. Of all the types of domestic violence, financial abuse is the least apparent.

Contact Our DuPage County Domestic Violence Attorneys

Since victims of domestic violence are sometimes unaware they are experiencing abuse, they often fail to report it and continue living in an abusive environment. If you are dealing with one or several of these types of domestic violence, you should reach out to our DuPage County domestic violence attorneys as soon as possible. We can determine whether you should pursue an order of protection from the abuser, and we will strive to help you hold them accountable for their actions. Call us today at 630-932-9100 or contact us online.

Sources:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/womenshealth/factsheets/dv.htm

https://www.womenslaw.org/about-abuse/forms-abuse/domestic-violence