What is a domestic relationship?

• A relationship with a family or household member, such as a spouse or former spouse, parents, children, stepchildren and other persons related by blood or by current or previous marriage.
• A person you live with or lived with in the past.
• A person with whom you share a child.
  
• A person you share a blood relationship with because of a child.
• A person you are dating or dated in the past.

What is domestic violence and domestic abuse?

• Physical Abuse: Hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair pulling, choking, etc., are types of physical abuse. Physical abuse includes denying a partner medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use upon him or her.
• Emotional Abuse: Undermining a person's sense of self-worth is abusive. This includes constant criticism, diminishing one'​s abilities, name-calling or damaging someone's relationship with his or her children.
• Psychological Abuse: Fear by intimidation, threatening physical harm to a partner, children, a partner's family or friends, or to the abuser; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends or school or work.
• Sexual Abuse: Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to, marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating the victim in a sexually demeaning manner.
• Economic Abuse: Making or attempting to make the victim financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding access to money, or forbidding attendance at school or employment.

The Cycle of Violence

The cycle of violence begins with tension that culminates in abuse. Often, immediately after the violent episode, the abuser is remorseful and promises that no further violence will occur. The victim may eventually forgive the abuser. However, without help or intervention more violence often will follow, increasing the risk to the victim and others. For more, visit the website of the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence.​