Warning signs of domestic abuse

To help identify domestic violence, the following indicators are listed. Any single characteristic is not a sign of trouble, but several combined would be grounds for further investigation.

The abused woman:

 Shows guilt, ambivalence, and fear over living conditions.
 Feels isolated and untrusting of others, even though she may be involved in the community.
 Is emotionally and economically dependent.
 Has a poor self-concept (this may not have been true BEFORE the relationship).
 Has observed other women in her family being abused or may have been abused as a child.
 Feels angry, embarrassed, and ashamed.
 Is fearful of being insane.
 Has learned to feel helpless and feels powerless.
 Has unexplained injuries that may go untreated.

The abusive man:

 Shows extreme jealousy and wants to keep the woman isolated.
 Has an inability to cope with stress and shows a lack of impulse control. (This may not necessarily appear outside the home)
 Has a poor self-image and blames others for problems.
 Shows severe mood swings.
 May have a history of abuse in his own family and may have been abusive in courtship.
 Presents a history of personal and/or family discord; unemployment, cruelty to animals, abuse of alcohol or other substances, and other unexplained behavior