The Be Project: Empowering Youth to be part of the solution to end relationship violence

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Types of Abuse

Teen Dating Violence

 

Everyone gets angry and sometimes dating partners fight. These are normal parts of any relationship. Abuse is different. Abuse is a pattern of physical, verbal/emotional, and/or sexually violent or controlling behavior. Abuse is not a normal part of a healthy relationship and should always be taken seriously.

 

Physical Abuse: Any use of size, strength or presence to control/hurt someone. Examples of physically abusive behavior include:

  • Scratching
  • Choking
  • Pulling hair
  • Punching/slapping/ backhanding/kicking
  • Throwing objects
  • Burning
  • Pinning against a wall or a floor
  • Carrying you against your will
  • Tearing clothing and breaking your personal property
  • Preventing you from leaving
  • Use of a weapon to harm, threaten, or intimidate

Verbal/emotional Abuse: Any use of words/ voice to control/hurt someone. Examples of emotionally abusive behavior include:

  • Yelling
  • Name-calling and put-downs
  • Insulting you and/or your friends/family
  • Public humiliation
  • Insulting
  • Laughing at him/her
  • Stealing money
  • Threats (to hurt or kill, breakup, commit suicide, etc.)
  • Constantly blaming
  • Constantly accusing of flirting or cheating
  • Intense jealousy and possessiveness
  • Stalking
  • Lying
  • Cheating
  • Criticizing looks
  • Demanding that he/she dress or act a certain way
  • Making partner feel “crazy”
  • Minimizing or denying their behavior
  • Telling secrets and spreading rumors
  • Posting hurtful photos or comments online

Sexual Abuse: The forcing of undesired sexual acts to control/hurt someone. Examples of sexually abusive behavior include:

  • Calling sexual names
  • Getting angry when denied sex
  • Forcing sex (rape) or forcing sexual acts
  • Forcing someone to watch sexual act
  • Forced exposure to pornography
  • Forced sexting

 

 

 

Myth or Fact—interactive quiz where students are presented with common myths/facts regarding TDV and sexual assault. They choose whether they think the statement is a myth or fact. If it is a fact, a green thumbs up appears on the screen. If it is a myth, they are presented with the corresponding fact.

 

Click HERE to see some Myth or Fact questions.