Domestic Violence Awareness
By Lauren Caniff
Domestic violence is any behavior that is hurtful in a relationship and is a misuse of control and power by one person in a relationship to another. This can be name calling, hitting, pushing, shoving, unwanted sexual activity, manipulation, threatening, and overly criticizing.
- Women aged 16-24 experience highest rate of IPV
- Between 20-47% of men and women are victims of dating violence in college
- Up to 90% of college students report psychological violence
- Nearly 1/3 of college students report assaulting a partner
Early warning signs that your date may eventually become abusive:
- Extreme jealousy
- Controlling behavior
- Quick involvement
- Unpredictable mood swings
- Alcohol and drug use
- Explosive anger
- Isolates you from friends and family
- Uses force during an argument
- Shows hypersensitivity
- Believes in rigid sex roles
- Blames others for his problems or feelings
- Cruel to children or animals
- Verbally abusive
- Abused former partners
- Threatens violence
How to Start a Conversation With a Victim
- Tell her/him that you are worried.
- Listen without judgment.
- Believe without questioning.
- Tell her/him that she/he deserves to be treated better.
- Encourage friends to meet with a therapist at Counseling Services 785-532-6927
© All staff articles are used by permission of the respective author(s). Copyright belongs to the University Life Café. No part of this may be used without authorization.
