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Relationship Violence

A pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure or wound someone. (Office of Violence Against Women, 2017).

• Domestic Violence
• Dating Violence

Relationship violence can include physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological abuse.

Types of Abuse

Physical Abuse

This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure or wound someone. (Office of Violence Against Women, 2017).

Sexual Abuse

Coercing or attempting to make any sexual contact or behavior without consent. In the context of domestic and dating relationships this can include, but is not limited to: forcing a partner as part of the relationship; forcing someone to have sex in a way that denies one’s sexual or gender identity; posting or sharing sexually explicit photographs of a partner without their consent (Adapted from: Office of Violence Against Women, 2017).

Emotional Abuse

Undermining an individual’s sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem. This may include, but is not limited to: constant criticism, diminishing one’s abilities or identities, damaging one’s relationship with their friends or family, or gaslighting (Adapted from: Office of Violence Against Women, 2017).

Economic Abuse

Making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintain total control over financial resources. Examples include: showing up at someone’s place of employment incessantly, convincing someone to call off routinely, or putting the person on an allowance or restricting their money (Adapted from: Office of Violence Against Women, 2017).

Psychological Abuse

Causing fear by intimidation, threatening physical harm to self, partner, animals, friends, etc., and forcing isolation from friends, organizations, family, school and/or work (Office of Violence Against Women, 2017).

Not only does relationship violence have an effect on those being abused, but also those who are surrounded by it, such as friends, family, co-workers, classmates, etc. If you or someone you know is being effected help is available. Learn about resources on and off campus.

Develop a Safety Plan

Stalking

Stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Stalking behaviors include, but are not limited to:

• Repeated, unwanted, intrusive and frightening communications via phone, mail or email.
• Repeatedly leaving or sending survivor unwanted items, presents or flowers.
• Following or lying in wait for the survivor at places such as their residence hall, work, businesses they frequent, outside of their classrooms, etc.
• Making direct or indirect threats to harm the survivor, themselves, the survivor’s friends, pets, etc.
• Damaging or threatening to damage the survivor’s property.
• Harassing survivor through the internet.
• Posting information/spreading rumors about the survivor on the internet, in a public place or via a third party person.
• Obtaining personal information about the survivor by accessing public records, using internet search services, going through the survivor’s belongings without their consent, following the survivor or the survivor’s friends, place of employment, professors, etc. (Adapted from: Stalking Resource Center, National Center for Victims of Crime 2016).

Not only does stalking have an effect on those being abused, but also those who are surrounded by it, such as friends, family, co-workers, classmates, etc. If you or someone you know is being effected help is available. Learn about resources on and off-campus.

Develop a Safety Plan

Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient (Office of Violence Against Women, 2017). Some forms of sexual violence are illegal, such as rape or posting or sharing photos without consent, often called revenge porn. Others are not illegal such as sexually violent jokes, street harassment or cat calling, but this does not make them any less harmful to a person. Sexual violence can happen to anyone regardless of culture or identity (PCAR, 2017). It can include words and actions of a sexual nature including, but not limited to:

• Attempted or completed rape
• Attempted or completed incest
• Attempted or completed acquaintance rape
• Grabbing, groping, fondling
• Sexting without consent
• Posting or sharing photos without consent, often called revenge porn
• Sexual harassment
• Exposure or voyeurism
• Forced/coerced participation in the production of pornography or pornographic videos

A person may use force, threats, manipulation or coercion to commit any of the types of sexual violence listed above (PCAR, 2017).

Not only does sexual violence have an effect on those being abused, but also those who are surrounded by it, such as friends, family, co-workers, classmates, etc. If you or someone you know is being effected help is available. Learn about resources on and off-campus.

Develop a Safety Plan