What are the warning signs of an abuser?
- Extreme jealousy
- Possessiveness
- Unpredictability
- Bad temper
- Cruelty to animals
- Verbal Abuse
- Controlling behavior
- Antiquated beliefs of gender roles
- Forced sex
- Sabotage of birth control methods
- Blaming the victim for everything
- Controls finances
- Abuse of other family members or pets
- Control of victims appearance
- Humiliating the victim
- Harassment of the victim at work
What traits do abusers have in common?
- An abuser often denies the existence or minimizes the seriousness of the violence and its effect on the victim and other family members.
- An abuser objectifies the victim and often sees them as their property or sexual objects.
- An abuser has low self-esteem and feels powerless and ineffective in the world. He or she may appear successful, but internally they feel inadequate.
- An abuser externalizes the causes of their behavior. They blame their violence on circumstances such as stress, their partner’s behavior, a “bad day,” or on substance abuse and other factors.
- An abuser may be pleasant and charming between periods of violence and is often seen as a “nice person” to others outside the relationship.
Domestic violence is not limited to the above behaviors. If you have concerns, please contact our 24-hour emergency hotline at 1-877-701-7233. If you are currently in a life-threatening situation, please call 911.