Glossary of domestic violence

This glossary is designed to define and provide context to terms frequently used when discussing domestic violence.

A

• Abuse - A pattern of behaviors used by one person to gain and maintain power and control over another person in an intimate relationship.
• Abuser - An individual who regularly and systematically uses tactics to control, manipulate, and inflict emotional or physical harm to a partner.

B

• Battering - Repeated physical violence and control of a partner, which can include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
• Boundaries - Personal limits one sets in relationships regarding what behavior they will tolerate from others.

C

• Coercion - The act of compelling a victim to act against their will by using intimidation, threats, or some form of pressure or force.
• Cycle of abuse - A recognizable pattern of domestic violence, typically consisting of the tension-building, incident, reconciliation, and calm stages.

D

• Domestic violence - A pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.
• Domestic violence injunction - A court order that requires the abuser to stay away from the victim or face legal consequences.

E

• Emotional abuse - A form of abuse that involves the destruction of the victim's self-worth, and is characterized by verbal intimidation, humiliation, and isolation.
• Economic abuse - When one partner takes control over the other partner’s financial resources, making it difficult for them to support themselves and forces them to depend on the perpetrator financially.

F

• Family violence - A broader term that includes child abuse, elder abuse, and other violent acts between family members.

G

• Gaslighting - A form of psychological manipulation in which the abuser sows seeds of doubt in the victim, making them question their memory, perception, or sanity.
• Gender-based violence - Violence directed against a person because of their gender. It is often used interchangeably with the term domestic violence.

H

• Harassment - A behavior that involves persistent and unwanted attention that makes the victim feel uncomfortable, scared, or threatened.
• Homicide - The ultimate form of domestic violence, where the abuser kills their partner.

I

• Intimidation - Using actions, words, or gestures to create fear and assert control over a partner.
• Injunction for protection - A legal order issued by a state court which requires one person to stop harming another.

J

• Justice - In the context of domestic violence, achieving fair and impartial treatment in the legal system for victims and holding abusers accountable for their actions.

K

• Kicking - A form of physical abuse involving the use of the feet to inflict pain or injury to the victim’s body.

L

• Legal advocacy - Support and promotion of one's interests or cause in the legal system, often provided by advocates for victims of domestic violence seeking justice and protection.

M

• Manipulation - A psychological tactic used by abusers to influence or control the victim's actions, emotions, and thoughts, often subtly and deceptively.
• Mandatory arrest policies - Policies that require police to make an arrest when they have probable cause to believe that domestic violence has occurred.

N

• Non-physical abuse - Forms of abuse that do not involve physical contact, including emotional, psychological, and financial abuse.

O

• Order of protection - A legal order issued by a court to protect a person from harassment, abuse, stalking, or threats by another person.

P

• Physical abuse - Any intentional and unwanted contact with the victim or something close to their body. It includes hitting, slapping, punching, choking, pushing, and other types of contact that result in physical injury to the victim.
• Protection order - Another term for an order of protection; legal documentation that restricts the abuser’s access to the victim.

Q

• Quality of life crimes - Lesser crimes that are associated with domestic violence, such as disturbing the peace, which can also negatively impact the quality of life of the victim.

R

• Restraining order - A court order that can protect someone from being physically or sexually abused, threatened, stalked, or harassed.
• Re-victimization - The repetitive pattern where the victim of abuse experiences multiple episodes of abuse or victimization, from the same or different perpetrators.

S

• Stalking - A pattern of fixated and obsessive behavior which is intrusive and causes fear of violence or engenders alarm and distress in the victim.
• Survivor - A person who endures hardship or harm but is still able to live, especially because of resilient qualities or unassailable will.

T

• Trauma - The emotional, psychological, and physical effects of domestic violence, which can be both immediate and long-lasting.
• Threats - Statements or actions that are meant to intimidate or harm the victim, often used by abusers to control their victims.

U

• Unlawful imprisonment - When the abuser restrains the victim against their will in a specific area or prevents them from leaving.

V

• Verbal abuse - A form of abusive behavior involving the use of language. It includes belittling, demeaning, shouting, and insulting behaviors.
• Victim blaming - The tendency to blame the victim of a crime, such as domestic violence, for the harm that befell them.

W

• Warrant - A legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes the police to take certain actions, such as searching premises or arresting someone.
• Witness - Someone who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place.

X

• X-parte communication - Communication with a judge or juror by one party without the other party being present. This is generally prohibited in cases of domestic violence.

Y

• Youth violence - Violent behavior that starts early in life and can continue into adulthood. In some cases, youth violence can occur in the context of domestic violence.

Z

• Zero tolerance policy - A policy that does not allow any incident of domestic violence to be overlooked, regardless of severity. It typically mandates specific consequences or interventions.

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• Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
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• Elder abuse
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