Intimate partner violence affects all manner of romantic relationships and can negatively impact family, friends, and others.

Physical violence is just one form of intimate partner violence.

If you feel you have been in an abusive relationship in any way, please refer to our What to do if…

tab to gain further information about campus options and resources available to you.

They may use any, a combination of, or all of the following forms of abuse: Often, an abusive partner will begin by using emotional or psychological abuse (such as name-calling or putting the victim down), and then escalate to other forms of abuse, such as physical violence.

Typically, the violence starts off more subtle and then grows in frequency and severity.

Girls are more likely to yell, threaten to hurt themselves, pinch, slap, scratch, or kick. A cycle of violence that includes control and domination by one of the partners is occurring. Women do not abuse; lesbian relationships are egalitarian. FACT: Abuse is about power and control, and all relationships are affected by issues of power.

In many cases, an aggressive partner employs a variety of behaviors in an effort to manipulate and control his or her partner.

Forms of domestic violence include: Although domestic violence research has focused largely on male perpetrators and female victims, anyone can be affected, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, or socioeconomic background.

Domestic violence—also known as intimate partner violence, spousal abuse, or domestic abuse—is the abusive behavior of one partner toward another in an effort to gain and maintain control.

The behavior can vary in frequency and severity and may include physical or sexual violence, as well as emotional, psychological, or financial abuse.