Domestic Violence or Dating Violence is when one person chooses to use power and control over their partner, over a period of time. Click on the pie pieces to learn more...

Dating Violence is a pattern of behaviors that slowly develops in a relationship. People who choose to abuse their partners are making those choices based on their belief system. Maybe they feel like they have the right to have power and control over their partner or that controlling someone is the way to handle issues that come up in the relationship or that this is the way to have a relationship in general. For whatever reason, this belief system is learned and needs to be unlearned!

A person who is in an abusive relationship might not realize that they are being abused. It is important not to blame someone but to instead have empathy for those being abused or mistreated by their partners and to recognize why they might stay. For starters, someone in an abusive relationship probably does not want the relationship to end – they want the abuse to stop. They might be in love with their partner and hope for a change so they can stay together. The abuse also might not happen all the time – sometimes, the person may be charming and romantic and funny. It can be really confusing. Abuse develops over a period of time. The person being abused might have a lot invested in the relationship and not realize how bad the abuse has gotten.

Look for ways to support friends who are experiencing Dating Violence in this section.