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According to the National Coalition against Domestic Violence, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men in the US will be affected by severe intimate partner physical violence at some point in their life.

Have you or has someone you know ever experienced the following by a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, or intimate partner?

• Name-calling or put-downs
• Isolation from family or friends
• Withholding of money
• Actual or threatened physical harm
• Being forced to have sex against your will

These are examples of domestic violence, which includes partner violence, family violence, spouse abuse, and child abuse.

This violence takes many forms, and can happen once in a while during a relationship or all the time. Although each situation is different, there are common warning signs—or “red flag” behaviors— including those behaviors listed above (see “Warning Signs” on page 8). Knowing these signs is an important step in preventing and stopping violence.

Some types of domestic violence, like emotional or financial abuse, are not necessarily illegal, but they are still forms of abuse and not part of a healthy relationship.

On this website, we will focus on domestic violence as partner violence, defined as violent or controlling behavior by a person toward an intimate partner. Although the partner is the primary target, violence is often directed toward children as well, and sometimes toward family members, friends, and even bystanders in attempts to control their partner.