Who is a victim?

There is no specific criteria for domestic violence victims but some therapists find that women who are abused as children are more likely to become victims of abuse as adults. Victims can be of any age, social background or race. Some believe that women who suffer from low self-esteem are more likely to be victims but this is incorrect. She does not have to be passive; in fact 8 out of 10 battered women fight back.

Many violent couple fights are initiated by women. Women tend to use violence out of frustration of self-defense. Men use violence to control their partners. Men to female violence are more likely to cause injury than female to male violence.

Even when women use violence as a means of self-defense, if the behavior becomes a repeatable defense she should take anger management and conflict resolution classes. Even if a victim may trigger an anger emotion; it is not a viable excuse for a batterer to say he was provoked. The batterer is at fault for abusing the victim.

Often domestic violence victims will deny the severity of the abuse. Many mistrust others. They feel more comfortable sharing their stories with other victims because they do not feel judged. They often feel humiliated and frightened. They need moral support. They need to know that the abuse is not their fault.