Types of Abuse

• Physical:  Child, Spouse or Elder Abuse
  
  
  • Definition:  Physical Abuse - Use of physical force that causes bodily injury.  Violence that is used to intimidate, control or force the spouse to do something against his or her will.
    
    
• Emotional Abuse
  
  • Definition:  Emotional -- A pattern of acts or omissions, such as violent acts that cause observable injury, that adversely affect the psychological well-being of the victim.
    
    
  • Psychological -- A pattern of behavior involving one or more of the following behaviors: explicit threats of violence, extremely controlling, extreme jealousy and isolating behaviors.

• Elder/Child Neglect
  
  • Neglect (Elder/Child) -- Failure to meet a family member’s legal and moral obligations or duties.  Common examples include failure to provide adequate food, medical treatment, lack of supervision, deplorable conditions in the home. 
    
    
• Sexual Abuse of Spouse, Child or Elderly
  
  • Child Sexual Abuse -- Sexual activity with a child for the purpose of sexual gratification of the alleged offender or some other individual.
  • A child cannot consent to  have sex with an adult
  • Partner Sexual Abuse - Forced sex or coercing a partner to engage in undesired sexual activity