Family violence encompasses many types of abuse, including physical, financial, emotional, and sexual abuse. Often referred to as domestic violence, family violence is insidious, occurring gradually and worsening over time.
The prevalence of such acts is higher than many people realize. Over 1 million cases of family violence were recorded in 2019, and it is estimated that only 55% of incidents are reported. Even though there are instances of false allegations of family violence, family violence is a real concern in our society.
Family abuse can include any number of acts that are done with the intent to cause harm to a family member. The effects are far-reaching, as this abuse presents immediate and long-term consequences for the victim and other household members. Physical forms of abuse are often considered first in discussions on family violence, but they can also manifest in ways that are not as easily recognizable.
Physical Abuse
Any intentional use of physical force to cause harm or fear can be classified as physical abuse. It is not necessarily behavior that leads to an injury, although this type of abuse does often cause bodily harm. Examples of physical abuse include pushing, hitting, kicking, restraining, choking, shaking, and throwing things.
Sexual Abuse
Many incidents of sexual assault are committed by someone who knows the victim personally. Sexual abuse as family violence occurs when someone is forced or coerced into sexual activity. It involves not only the unwanted physical act but also the exertion of control and power over the victim.
Control
Coercive control is one of the more difficult types of family violence to identify. It involves a number of behaviors intended to make someone dependent and submissive to the perpetrator. Home environments where this type of abuse is present are often filled with confusion, manipulation, and deprivation. Controlling behaviors include excessive regulation of everyday activities, threats, and exploitation.
Emotional Abuse & Intimidation
As a form of non-physical violence, emotional abuse can be difficult to recognize for both the victim and others around them. Intimidation, coercion, and threats are common in emotionally abusive households, and this can lead to psychological damage that takes a lifetime to repair. Examples of emotional abuse include:
- Insults or other attempts to lower self-esteem
- Placing blame and criticizing
- Ignoring and excluding
- Gaslighting
- Threats and intimidation
Isolation
Isolation is a large part of many types of family violence because it allows abusers to separate victims from people who may recognize signs of abuse. It makes it more difficult to reach out for help and creates a dependency on the perpetrator of the abuse.
Verbal Abuse
Verbal abuse is used to maintain power and control over someone by affecting the way they feel about themselves. Verbally abusive family members use tactics like name-calling, yelling, criticizing, and shaming to make someone feel powerless and cause emotional harm.
Economic Abuse
Another way abusive family members assert control over others is through economic abuse. This can be done by controlling income, bills, and spending and also by restricting access to transportation, technology, food, clothing, or any other daily essentials.
Contact a Family Violence Attorney
For questions about family violence and how your specific situation may be treated under Texas law, or how family violence affects child custody, call The Fox Firm to schedule a consultation. Even if you have already been charged with family violence, it may be possible to get your family violence charge dismissed whether or not it is a first-time family violence offense.