Recognising signs of violence and abuse
It is important to be aware of the many ways violence, abuse and unhealthy relationships can develop.
Violence and abuse can happen to people of all ages, genders, sexualities, cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds.
We use violence and abuse as a term to describe different types of behaviour, including:
- relationship abuse and unhealthy relationships
- rape, sexual assault and sexual violence
- violence related to gender
- harassment
- hate crime
- bullying
- any other unacceptable behaviour
Recognising signs of these different types of violence and abuse is important:
Relationship abuse and unhealthy relationships
It can be difficult to identify the signs of an unhealthy relationship, especially when it’s your own. Everyone deserves to be in a safe and healthy relationship.
If you don’t feel secure, comfortable and loved in your relationship this might mean you are in an unhealthy relationship. It is possible you may also be experiencing violence and abuse.
Signs of an unhealthy relationship include:
- your partner is controlling or possessive
- you are being ridiculed or criticised
- you are being manipulated
- you are being intimidated
- you are being threatened
- your partner is isolating you from other friends or family or limiting who you see
- you are experiencing physical or sexual violence.
Rape, sexual assault and sexual violence
Rape and sexual assault
Sexual violence can take place in or outside of a relationship. Sex without a person’s consent due to drugs, alcohol or unconsciousness is considered as rape and assault by penetration.
Consent can only be given if:
- someone has the capacity to give their consent
- someone is free to make the choice to consent.
Sexual assault is considered to be unwanted touching of a sexual nature.
Sexual violence within in a relationship
Being with someone does not determine your consent to a sexual act.
With any sexual encounter there should be freedom and capacity to choose to participate, which might not be possible if someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Consent is to be given and can be taken back at any time.
Sexual harassment and stalking
Sexual harassment is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, which can include unwanted touching, kissing, verbal and non-verbal behaviour.
Harassment can be in person, online or via other means such as stalking.
Examples of stalking include following a person, watching or spying on them or forcing contact through any means, including social media.
Other forms of sexual violence
Other forms of sexual violence include:
- sexual exploitation, trafficking and slavery
- non-consensual sharing of sexual images/videos
- sextortion
- revenge porn.
Violence related to gender
Women are disproportionately affected by violence and abuse compared to men. Therefore, gender-based violence is a specific term used to describe violence against women and girls.
This includes any experience of:
- relationship abuse (domestic violence)
- rape, sexual assault and sexual violence
- harassment and stalking
- forced marriage
- honour-based violence
- female genital mutilation
- trafficking and forced prostitution
- sexual exploitation (including through the sex industry)
- coercive control
- sextortion (webcam blackmail).
How violence and abuse is experienced
Violence and abuse often includes many types of abusive and controlling behaviour which are used together, intentionally to control another person or to have power over them.
It is rarely a one-off incident and usually gets worse over time. Where a person does experience a one-off incident the abuser is likely to do it again, and to others.
The people responsible for violence and abuse are most likely to be known to the person experiencing it, including friends, acquaintances, partners and family members.
This information can also be viewed on the Cardiff University Student Intranet