Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is abuse that occurs within a romantic relationship, involving a current or former spouse or dating partner. It is also commonly referred to as domestic violence.

IPV can be a single incident or a repeated pattern of behavior and includes various forms of abuse:

• Physical violence: Harming or attempting to harm a partner through hitting, kicking, pushing, strangling, or using weapons.
• Sexual violence: Forcing or attempting to force a partner into sexual activities without consent, including unwanted touching, sexual coercion, or rape.
• Emotional or psychological abuse: Threats, name-calling, humiliation, controlling behavior (such as dictating how a partner should dress or isolating them from family and friends), harassment, degradation, and intimidation.
• Economic or financial abuse: Controlling or restricting access to money and financial resources.
• Stalking: Repeated unwanted contact or surveillance that causes fear or concern for safety.

IPV is aimed at establishing control over the partner and can affect individuals regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, race, or socioeconomic status. It can occur in heterosexual or same-sex relationships and affects both men and women, though women are more frequently victims of severe harm.

The consequences of IPV are serious and long-lasting, including physical injuries, emotional trauma, chronic health problems, and even death.

In summary, intimate partner violence is a multifaceted pattern of abusive behaviors within intimate relationships designed to exert power and control over the partner, encompassing physical, sexual, emotional, economic abuse, and stalking.