| Early
warning signs
Substance abuse
Between 40 and 80% of battering incidents involve substance abuse. People
who batter do not batter because of substance abuse, but they may use
their dependency as an excuse for their battering. Also, the battering
may be more severe when combined with substance abuse.
Physical abuse during courtship
Physical abuse during courtship is a guarantee of later abuse. As time
goes on, the abuse usually will become more severe and more frequent.
It is a mistake to marry believing this will get better, it will almost
definitely become more severe over time.
Violent environment
Violent behavior is learned. Individuals who grow up with abuse in the
home often think of abuse as normal behavior.
Cruelty to animals
Anyone who beats a dog or other pets should be considered a likely batterer.
Abuse justified by frustration
When relatively minor problems such as missing a parking space or being
jostled in a crowd causes a person to become violent, scream or otherwise
seriously over react to the situation, it is highly likely this behavior
will repeat itself in the marriage.
Poor self-image
Men often attack women when they feel their masculinity has been threatened.
However, many abusers feel quite entitled to use violence and consider
themselves superior to their female partners.
Extreme or subtle possessiveness and jealousy
If a person considers his or her partner to be property and becomes enraged
or expresses a need to be with the partner as much as possible, or when
he or she does not receive all of his or her attention, he or she is a
potential abuser. If the potential abuser is threatened by a partner's
friendships with others and does not allow the partner to form other friendships,
that is a red flag.
A general dislike or mistrust of women
(male abusers)
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