Physical abuse may
begin in a physically nonviolent way; that is, with
neglect, which can include not allowing her access to
basic needs (food, shelter, hygiene items); not allowing
her to sleep; or withholding physical intimacy as a way
to control her. When the abuse moves into overt
violence, he may begin with assaults such as painful
pinching or squeezing. As the abuser escalates, he
becomes more violent and his violence becomes targeted;
that is, directed to a part of the body, such as the
torso, where the injuries are less likely to show. When
the abuser believes he will not be held accountable for
his behaviors, he may inflict visible injuries. The
following is a list of physically abusive behaviors:
Pinching and/or
squeezing in a painful way
Pushing, shoving or
restraining
Jerking, pulling,
shaking or hair pulling
Slapping or biting
Targeted hitting,
kicking, etc. so that injuries do not show. The abuser’s
actions here are evidence that he is not “out of control”
when he batters. Instead he is using violence to control
and exert power over the victim.
Strangling the victim
Throwing objects at the
victim
Abuses the children
sexually, physically, and/or emotionally
Sustained series of
hitting or kicking blows, visible injuries
Physical abuse that
requires medical treatment
Abuser deprives the
victim of sleep, food, medicine, other essentials
Throwing the victim
Causing broken bones
and/or internal injuries
Causing miscarriage or
injuries that require a therapeutic abortion
Using objects at hand,
such as household utensils, as weapons
Denying the victim
medical treatment
Using weapons such as a
gun or knife
Causing permanently
disabling and/or disfiguring injuries
Murder
