Chart of Dangerous Behaviors

Emotional/Psychological Abuse

Potentially Dangerous

Ignores women's feelings, withholding approval as punishment
Repeated humiliation, both public and private
Blames victim for all faults
Labeling: "Crazy", "Bitch". "Whore"

Dangerous

Threats of violence, retaliation
Puts down abilities as worker, mother, lover
Threatens her with abusing children or getting custody of children

Highly Dangerous

Provokes following reactions in victim:
- Powerlessness (learned)
- Unpredictable consequences of actions
- Nervous breakdown, depression, mental illness

Lethal

SUICIDE

Social/Environmental Abuse

Potentially Dangerous

Jokes about role of women
Denies victim her history. heritage

Dangerous

Isolates victim by no friends, repeated moves
Economic dependency (gets her fired, takes her money, etc.)
Threatens to hurt her family
Man stays isolated and demands control of environment

Highly Dangerous

Hits, punches or kicks walls, not her
Deprives victim of food, sleep, medicine, etc.
Destroys pets
Incest or child abuse
Threatens suicide

Lethal

DEATH

Sexual Abuse

Potentially Dangerous

Looks at and makes jokes about women as sex objects
Jealousy may become extreme
Minimizes her feelings an needs regarding sex
Sexual criticism

Dangerous

Forces victim to touch or look at genitalia
Withholds sex and affection
Forces victim to watch sex with others

Highly Dangerous

Demands sex with threats
Forces uncomfortable sex after a beating
Sadism, sex for purpose of hurting, uses objects and weapons

Lethal

MURDER

Physical Abuse

Potentially Dangerous

Pinch
Squeeze
Push - Shove
Restrain
Jerk - Pull
Shake - Slap
Bite
Pull hair

Dangerous

Shaking, with bruises
Hit - Punch
Kick
Objects thrown
Targeted or repeated hitting for punishment

Highly Dangerous

Choking
Household objects as weapons: restraining & hitting
Bones broken, internal injuries, medical treatment needed
Use of knives, guns, poisons for disabling or disfiguring

Lethal

HOMICIDE

~ Source Unknown

Take the time and really think about each of these sections.  It took me a long time to understand that what I thought was normal was actually abuse.  But this was also the first day that I saw them.