Intimate Partner Violence - Abused and Abusive Partners

Intimate Partner Violence - Abused and Abusive Partners

Introduction

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has become a serious endemic, public health problem that affects millions of Americans. Some people confine the term “intimate partner violence” to describe ‘physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse’ (Saltzman, et al, 2002), while some others widen the ambit of intimate relationship and define intimate partner violence as ‘as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends or cohabitation’ (Shipway 2004)). As a public health problem, IPV can vary in frequency and severity. The violence can be a ‘one-time’ occurrence, but usually it is a continuous one, ranging from one hit syndrome to chronic, severe battering (Saltzman et al. 2002). This paper proposes to discuss various aspects of IPV, particularly the various kinds of this violence, how widespread it is, its likely consequences, legal remedies, and so on.

Various kinds of IPV

Four main types of intimate partner violence have been identified (Saltzman et al. 2002). These are (1) physical violence which is the deliberate premeditated use of physical force with the possibility of causing death, disability, injury, or harm. ‘Physical violence includes, but is not limited to, scratching; pushing; shoving; throwing; grabbing; biting; choking; shaking; slapping; punching; burning; use of a weapon; and use of restraints or one's body, size, or strength against another person’ (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998). Physical violence or abuse also includes contacts intended to cause feelings of intimidation, pain, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm; and also ‘behaviors such as denying the victim of medical care when needed, depriving the victim of sleep or other functions necessary to live, or forcing the victim to engage in drug/alcohol use against his/her will’ (U.S Department of Justice, 2007)....