Spousal abuse, more commonly known as domestic violence or abuse happens when a family member, spouse, or partner physically or emotionally dominates another person. Spousal abuse occurs between spouses in most instances. However, it can also occur between two people that are in a cohabitating relationship or two people that are not married, but are intimately involved with each other. Domestic violence occurs is any and all cultures. There is no discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, social class, or sex. Anyone and everyone could potentially be perpetrators of spousal abuse. Men and women are both found to perpetrate domestic violence.

There are many different forms that domestic violence can take. These include physical violence, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, threats of violence, and economic deprivation. There can be criminal violence which would include physical assault such as pushing, hitting, shoving, striking, etc., sexual abuse which involves any unwanted or forced sexual activities, and stalking. Emotional, psychological, and financial abuse are not known as criminal behaviors in most legal systems. However, these types of abuse have the potential to lead to instances of criminal violence.

There is a major parrot of spousal abuse that is quite often ignored. This is the incidence of passive abuse that leads up to violence occurring. Passive abuse is often kept secret and hidden from the public world. Victims of spousal abuse find themselves in a situation where they are neglected, emotionally and spiritually abused, and are placed at a lower intellectual level than those around them.

There is a great deal of controversy about the numbers in relation to spousal abuse. It is estimated that only a third of all of the domestic abuse cases that occur in the United States are reported. The Centers for Disease Control state that more than 32 million Americans are victims of spousal abuse. This is over ten percent of the entire population of the United States. It is a problem that is continually growing and becoming worse. There are more and more abusers popping up around the world every day.

The majority of focus in relation to spousal abuse has been on women as the victims. There is a recent increase in men’s rights that has begun to bring to light the men that are abused by women. In studies that were conducted of emergency rooms in regards to domestic violence, it was found that men who were physically abused accounted for almost one sixth of all of the patients that were admitted with claims that domestic violence was the cause of their injuries. Studies have also shown that men are much less likely to disclose the identity of their attacker than women were.

There are many different forms that spousal abuse can take. These can include physical violence which includes direct contact ranging from an unwanted physical contact to rape or even murder. Physical violence of an indirect nature can include destruction of property, throwing things in proximity to the victim, or harming pets and animals. Aside from the physical violence that occurs with spousal abuse, there can also be mental and emotional abuse which can include verbal threats or nonverbal threats. Psychological abuse can result in economic or social control by the abuser.

Let us all try to avoid such violence in relationship and create more loving and sweet relationship. If you have any tips to help others avoid such relationships, feel free to leave your comments below.