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Different Forms of Dating Violence

Teen dating violence isn't just physical violence, dating violence comes in many different forms. Abusers use various different tactics to gain and maintain power and control over their dating partners. 

  • Scratching

  • Punching 

  • Biting

  • Kicking 

  • Pinching 

  • Burning

  • Shoving

  • Pulling hair 

  • Choking

  • Strangling 

  • Pushing 

  • Using a weapon 

  • Slapping

Physical Abuse

Any intentional unwanted contact with the other person’s body. Physical abuse does not have to leave a mark or a bruise. 
 

Sexual Abuse

Any sexual behavior that is unwanted or interferes with the other person’s right to say “no” to sexual advances.

  • Unwanted kissing or touching

  • Date rape

  • Forcing someone to go further sexually than he or she wants to

  • Unwanted rough or violent sexual activity

  • Not letting someone use birth control or protection against sexually transmitted infections

Saying or doing something to the other person that causes the person to be afraid, have lower self-esteem, or manipulates or controls the person’s feelings or behaviors.

Emotional/Verbal Abuse

  • Name-calling and put-downs

  • Insulting the person or his or her family or friends

  • Yelling and screaming

  • Threatening violence or harm

  • Making racial slurs about the person

  • Telling the person what to do

  • Making unwanted comments of a sexual nature to the person

  • Embarrassing the person in front of others

  • Spreading negative rumors about the person

  • Preventing the person from seeing or talking to friends and family

Digital Abuse

Using different technologies and/or social media networking to intimidate harass or threaten a current or ex-dating partner.

  • Demanding passwords

  • Checking cell phones

  • Cyberbullying

  • Non-consensual sexting

  • Excessive or threatening texts or stalking on social media

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