Types of Spousal Abuse

Spousal abuse, more commonly known as domestic abuse, can take on multiple forms over the course of a marriage. Many hear the term spousal abuse and think of violence alone, but violence is just one way that this abuse can occur. If you notice symptoms in a friend that appear to be caused by physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse, advise your friend to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-787-3224.

Physical

• This type of spousal abuse is the one with the most outward evidence and can be the most destructive. Physical abuse is when one spouse uses force or violence against another spouse. The behavior can take the form of hitting, slapping, choking, grabbing and threatening with a weapon. This type of abuse, if legally charged, can lead to a conviction of assault and battery. No matter what the level of physical abuse, or whether it has happened once or twice or more, it is still abuse and it should be reported.

Emotional

• Often overlooked as a type of abuse, emotional abuse is one of the most common types of abuse in a relationship. Emotional abuse is a series of verbal or nonverbal attacks that tend to devalue one of the partners and to make her question her self-worth. This type of abuse can lead to the other three, as it tends to make the partner lose self-confidence and make her see no way out of the situation no matter how bad it becomes. Some types of emotional abuse include intimidation, verbal insults, humiliation and isolation.

Sexual

• Sexual abuse can sometimes be found hand in hand with physical abuse. The abuse can range from degrading sexual acts to forced sexual contact. Even if you have had consensual sex with a partner before, forced sex with aggression is still considered rape and can be punishable by law. A report by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence states that between one third and one half of all battered women have been raped by their partners at some point in the relationship. Sexual abuse when combined with violence can be extremely dangerous and may result in injury or even death.

Financial

• Financial or economic abuse is a type that is not commonly known. Financial abuse may appear as an insistence by one partner to control all of the finances, blocking the spouse's desire to secure employment out of the home and forcing her to take an "allowance" instead of dealing with money equally. It may also include withholding food, clothes and money and taking your items as his own possessions. This type of abuse can add serious strain to your life and can cause mental problems as deeply as emotional abuse.