Dating Violence

Dating violence is a pattern of violent behavior-physical, emotional, or sexual-by one partner in a dating relationship toward the other partner.

Dating violence may be

Physical, such as:

• Hitting or slapping
• Biting
• Shoving
• Pinching
• Spanking
• Shaking or jerking
• Spitting
• Burning
• Restraining
• Chasing
• Forcing sex or sexual acts
• Touching in uncomfortable ways
• Pulling hair
• Stalking
• Driving recklessly
• Punching walls
• Taking personal items

Verbal, such as:

• Threatening to kill or to use violence
• Calling over and over
• Constant accusations of cheating
• Yelling
• Insulting
• Calling names
• Being sarcastic
• Making demeaning jokes
• Excessive swearing
• Mimicking
• Making degrading or negative comments
• Leaving vulgar messages
• Silent treatment
• Twisting partner's words
• Lying

Emotional, such as:

• Using personal information against partner
• Blaming partner
• Not accepting responsibility for one's own actions
• Playing mind games
• Using the "guilt trip"
• Demanding
• Constant interrogations
• Mocking body parts
• Controlling partner's activities
• Intense jealousy or rages
• Criticizing parnter's looks
• Isolating from family or friends
• Checking up on partner
• Insulting partner's family and friends