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Domestic Violence:
Myths vs. Facts
| Myths | Facts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People who abuse their partners do so because they can’t control their anger. | Abusers choose violence as a means of gaining control over their partners. Usually, an abuser does not display violent behaviors or tendencies outside of the relationship, proving that they are very much in control. | |||
| Substance abuse is one of the main causes of domestic violence. | While there is a strong correlation between substance abuse and domestic violence, substance abuse is NOT a cause of domestic violence. Alcohol and other substances can act as a disinhibitor, possibly resulting in a higher level of violence or an escalation from verbal to physical abuse. However, an abusive person is most likely to remain abusive, even when they are sober. | |||
| Domestic violence happens primarily in uneducated populations. | Domestic violence does not discriminate. People from all backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, races, socio-economic status and education levels are impacted by domestic violence equally. | |||
| Women and girls are the only victims of teen dating violence. | About 85% of victims of domestic violence are female, but that means that 15% are male. The number of male victims is probably higher, because they are less likely to come forward. | |||
| If a child who is exposed to domestic violence does not show disruptive behaviors, it can be assumed that s/he is not being impacted by the violence. | Children might respond differently to witnessing or experiencing domestic violence. Some children may display regressive behaviors, while others become overachievers, but each person is impacted. | |||
| Victims of domestic violence are safer when they leave an abusive relationship than when they stay in it. | The most dangerous time for victims of domestic violence is when they initiate separation. It is critical that victims have a safety plan when leaving an abusive relationship. After separation, the abuser may use additional tactics to try to control their partner, for example stalking, non-compliance with court orders and failure to pay child support. |
