Women may have unusual marks or bruises on their face, neck, arms or other parts of their bodies (CMH). Women may seem to be overly concerned about making their partner angry and goes out of her way to avoid anything that might cause a potential argument. The women may always seem rushed or have to be home at specific time. One very important piece of information to remember: listen to the stories that women tell about their partner. She may mention that her partner has been abused as a child or his father abused his mother (A Better Way). These are potential clues that women might be victims of abuse, but they are not definite signs.
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Abuser Characteristics .
There is not a "typical" abuser. In many cases, the abuser will appear friendly and loving to their partner and family (A Better Way). The batter may excuse, rationalize, justify and minimize their violence against the female partner. (Anderson & Umberson, 2001). Usually people that commit domestic violence only do so behind closed doors (A Better Way). Often when the abuser violates the victim, they do so in ways that cause hidden injuries and do not require medical treatment. Victims may suffer physical injuries such as broken bones and bruises from the abuse. Over 170,000 women of domestic violence incidents are serious enough to require a doctor's care, emergency response or hospitalization (U.S. Department of Justice, 1994). A batterer does not see the women as people, and do not respect women as a group. Instead, the batterer views women as personal property or sexual objects (American Institute on Domestic Violence, 2001). The abuser may be very dominant and controlling towards the women, or victim, or even the children in the household. Additional warning signs of a potential abuser consist of extreme jealously, possessiveness, a bad temper, unpredictability, cruelty to animals and verbal abusiveness (Barnes, 1998 ).
