PROFILE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSERS
In 1998, the Public Broadcast System (PBS) began telecasting a domestic violence prevention documentary titled “No Safe Place: Violence Against Women.” The film won several prestigious awards and PBS has since kept information about the film on their website. You can still upload the wesbsite and discover that they distributed videotapes and developed a Teacher Guide for classroom instruction.
They also posted a description of the warning signs victims and potential victims needed to be aware of to determine if they were in danger of being in an abusive relationship. They defined the forms of abusive behavior broadly to include the following forms of abuse
- Physical -- actions which cause physical pain or injury, such as kicking, pushing, or punching;
- Emotional -- actions which cause loss of self-esteem, such as name calling, swearing, or criticizing;
- Psychological -- actions which create fear, such as isolation or threats
- Sexual -- acts of a sexual nature that are unwelcome or uncomfortable
The list inclusive the behavior characteristics of abusive partners as including:
- Jealousy
- Controlling Behavior
- Unrealistic Expectations
- Isolation
- Blaming Others for Problems
- Blaming Others for Feelings
- Hypersensitivity
- Cruelty to Animals or Children
- Verbal Abuse
- Rigid Sex Roles
- Jekyll and Hyde Personality
- Past Battering Behavior or Convictions
- Threats of Violence
- Breaking or Striking Objects
- Using of Force During an Argument
- Constantly checking up on partner
- Forcing sex on partner
They also advised victims and potential victims that they are entitled to relationship rights, including:
- To be treated with respect
- To have control over my own body, thoughts, opinions, and property
- To have my needs be recognized as being as important as my partner's
- To refuse to take responsibility for my partner's behavior
- To keep my own friends
- To be given opportunities to grow as an individual
- To change my mind whenever I believe that I am being mislead or deceived
- To make my own decisions about how much time I want to spend with my partner
- To pay my own way
- Assert myself
- To be protects against being abused physically, emotionally, psychologically, or sexually
- To break-up, fall out of love, and leave a relationship
Victims and potential victims were encouraged to believe that:
- The abuse is not your fault
- You don't deserve to be abused
- You can't change someone who is abusive
- Staying in the relationship won't stop the abuse
- Over time the abuse always gets worse
- If you stay, make a plan to keep yourself safe when the abuse happens again
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