Question) Choose one of the three forms of "intimate abuse" presented in Chapter Fourteen.

Explain the nature of the form of the abuse, detail the difficulty in prosecuting the abuses and offer suggestions/strategies how to reduce the number of incidents of the crime chosen. Use outside, scholarly sources and "think outside the box" to come up with solutions to the difficult issues confronted here. Answer)

What formerly was called domestic violence is more frequently being termed intimate abuse or intimate partner violence. This revised terminology is used to include many more relationships than just married, heterosexual couples. An intimate relationship can be people in any romantic or sexual relationship, such as teens, lesbians, gay men, and even people who have a common child but are no longer in a relationship. What begins as loving and supportive relationship can sometimes turn abusive, with one or both of the partners causing harm to the other. The three main types of intimate partner abuse are: Psychological abuse, Sexual abuse and Physical abuse. Sometimes more than one type of abuse is present, or appears during the relationship. These three main categories can also be broken down into subcategories, and one type of abuse often overlaps into another. Psychological abuse can also be called emotional or mental abuse. It may actually be difficult to separation the psychological abuse from the other forms, because both physical and sexual abuse would certainly be mentally harmful through

control and domination of the victim. Therefore, none of these occur singly and separately, but the psychological abuse usually precedes the other forms, and sometimes is the only type that occurs.

Psychological or emotional abuse is the use of verbal or non-verbal threats or actions by one partner, intended to hurt the other partner. This is not physical force, but serves to terrorize, demean and subjugate the victim. Many of the victims report that this has harmed them more than any physical abuse. It is impossible to provide an exhaustive list of the behaviors that could constitute emotional abuse, but would include any of the following:

Insulting the partner Screaming at the partner Berating or belittling the partner Withholding finances, or making the partner beg for money Making fun of partners appearance Calling the partner stupid or mental Not allowing the partner to leave without permission Not allowing the partner to have friends Not allowing the partner to contact family Turning others against the partner Making threats of violence to partner Threatening to take the children Monitoring partners phone calls and whereabouts at all times Destroying personal property of victim Threatening to leave the relationship Preventing partner from receiving medical care Threatening harm to partners friends or family Harming partners pets Harassing the partner at work, jeopardizing the employment Emotional abuse is most often not recognized as true abuse, either by those

close to the couple or by professionals. What some might view as relationship

problems or normal arguments can be seriously harming the victim of this abuse, and can actually be leading to physical or sexual abuse. For example, it is sometimes viewed by others as comical when one partner constantly insults the others appearance or mental capacity, but it could be an indication of a very serious situation. Law enforcement, even those who are on a task force to prevent domestic or intimate abuse, routinely do nothing when this type of abuse is indicated. If there is no clear physical or sexual attack, nothing is done. Victims find it difficult to be specific about what happens, and are sometimes used to the treatment they endure, so do not even consider it as out of the ordinary. Prosecutors also are reluctant to try to take a case to court without physical or forensic evidence. Counselors and Social Workers that are charged with assisting victims of abuse, usually do nothing for psychological abuse victims. Emotional abuse can be devastating to the victim and is often a precursor to other types of violence and abuse. If children are present, they are harmed as well, by having to witness it. This should not be ignored, or considered to be less serious than other types of harm to the victim.

REMEDY Victims of emotional abuse should be considered as having a mental illness or mental impairment. They are psychologically harmed, sometimes having to take medication for depression or anxiety or some other collateral mental problem. They are often at risk for further abuse, and sometimes do harm to themselves or retaliate against the perpetrator in extreme cases. Because of this abuse, victims often

powerless to leave for financial reasons, and feeling that the threats made will be carried out. They need mental health care, and possibly even hospitalization in extreme cases. If serious enough, the victims should be subject to commitment processes just as anyone else who is seriously mentally ill. This should also be considered an actual mental illness, to be covered by insurance and Medicaid. The signs and symptoms of emotional abuse should be publicized, just as depression, bi-polar affective disorder, or any other illness. It must be recognized as more than just bad temper or teasing or between the two of them in order to recognize and treat the situation. This would elevate this to an actual medical condition, and perhaps the victims would have more of a realization of the reality of what is happening. They might be more inclined to consult a mental health professional or counselor to reveal the abuse. And, if necessary, other professionals could recommend or even ask the courts to get treatment for the victims.

REFERENCES

M.P. Koss, L. A. (1994). No Safe Haven: Male Violence Against Women at Home at Work and in the Community. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. McIntosh, W. H. (n.d.). The assessment of spouse abuse: two quantifiable dimensions. Journal of Marriage and the Family. , 872-886. Summers, D. L. (2007). A Report on the Prosecution of Domestic Violence Cases. San Francisco, CA: West Coast Coaltion for Prosecution of Batterers. Tolman, R. (1992). Psychological abuse of women. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Vera E. Mouradian, P. Abuse in Intimate Relationships: Defining the Multiple Dimensions and Terms.