Domestic Abuse Level

 

Introduction:

Domestic abuse, a widespread problem, includes intimate partner violence and control. It covers the basics of this difficult issue. Beginners seeking knowledge and awareness must start here.
This course covers domestic violence definitions, types, and prevalence. Participants will learn how domestic abuse affects survivors, families, and communities. We stress the necessity of recognising abuse patterns for early intervention and support.

Domestic Abuse

This module aims to enhance health and social care workers' awareness of domestic violence by teaching them to respond sensitively to disclosures, protect victims' safety, and refer them to resources. The term "domestic abuse" encompasses various behaviors, including violent ones. Victims, including children and those related to the abuser, are referred to as "victims." The module uses terminology from the Domestic Abuse Act of 2021, referring to victims as "survivors."

Forms of Domestic Abuse

The nature, dynamics, and effects of various abuse types might vary. Therefore, health and social care personnel need to be aware of the many types and forms of abuse in order to guarantee that an effective response is provided.

Intimate Partner Abuse:

Domestic abuse is prevalent in close partner relationships, ranging from individual incidents to prolonged patterns, worsening after divorce and involving economic, sexual, emotional, physical, stalker harassment, and coercive behaviors.

Teenage Relationship Abuse:

Under the 2021 Act, young people under 16 are not considered domestic abuse victims but instead victims of child abuse.

Abuse by Family Members:

The 2021 Act permits family members to abuse others or themselves, with young people, especially LGBT+ youth, being more vulnerable, and experiencing coercive behaviors and violence.

Child-to-parent Abuse:

Child-to-parent abuse (CPA) is a common form of domestic abuse where a child manipulates or dominates their parents, often through coercive control, verbal, physical, emotional, or financial abuse. It is considered a type of domestic abuse if the child is older than 16.  

Recognising Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse does not always require physical acts of violence; it can involve a wide range of behaviours. These violent behaviours will be experienced concurrently by numerous victims. The desire of the abuser to exert control and authority over the victim lies at the core of all these abusive acts.

Physical Abuse:

Physical abuse involves various forms such as being kicked, punched, pushed, dragged, shoved, slapped, choked, bitten, using weapons, being burned, scalded, poisoned, thrown objects, violence towards relatives or pets, denying access to medication or medical aids, and harming someone during caregiving duties, particularly for incapacitated victims.

Sexual Abuse:

Sexual abuse includes rape, coercion into sexual activity, demands for consent, "corrective" rape, unintentional exposure to STDs, risky sexual behavior, coercion to create pornography, non-consensual harm, prostitution, forced pregnancy, "rough sex," and non-fatal strangulation, as well as coercion into prostitution and forced pregnancy.

Controlling or Coercive Behaviour:

Controlling or coercive behaviour involves limiting a victim's activities, cutting them off from support, obstructing communication, controlling children, alienating behaviours, threatening to reveal private information, prohibiting foreign language learning or friendships, and overmedicating.

Emotional or Psychological Abuse:

Emotional abuse involves manipulating a person's anxieties, withholding affection, turning others against the victim, being stopped from seeing friends or professionals, insulting, belittling, keeping the victim awake, using violence, social media, or gaslighting to cause distress and intimidate them.

Verbal Abuse:

Verbal abuse encompasses various forms including frequent yelling, humiliation, ridicule, insults, threats, and ridicule based on physical appearance, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or other beliefs.

Economic Abuse:

Economic abuse involves controlling family income, denying food, running up bills, and interfering with immigration, welfare, education, employment, and career opportunities, often leading to benefit fraud.

Technological Abuse:

Technological abuse involves false information, trolling, image-based abuse, hacking, blocking online accounts, spyware, GPS locators, internet-enabled devices, concealed cameras, and smartwatches for monitoring, controlling, or intimidating purposes.

Spiritual Abuse:

Spiritual abuse involves manipulation, exploitation, censorship, and secrecy, often causing pain, seclusion, and neglect. It can lead to loss of faith and the need for spiritual healing, preventing victims from following their religious responsibilities.

Religious Marriage and Divorce:

In England and Wales, religious marriage ceremonies are not accepted if they don't meet civil prerequisites and ceremony standards. This can lead to unstable immigration status and coercion, as offenders can prevent marriage registration and force victims into plural marriages, denying legal rights in case of breakdown.

‘Honour’-based Abuse:

Honour-based abuse (HBA) is a crime committed by family members to protect or defy perceived honor or restrictive norms, often occurring in close-knit communities, minority, and closed social groups.

Recognise, Respond and Refer Domestic Abuse

Speak up if you believe someone is being abused! You might be mistaken or the other person might not want to talk about it if you're hesitating and convincing yourself that it's none of your business. It's important to remember that showing someone you care about them and maybe even saving their life can come from expressing your concerns.