Download Teen Dating Violence - Fremont Unified School District

TEEN DATING
VIOLENCE
WHAT IS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE?
Teen
dating violence is defined as
the physical, sexual, verbal, or
psychological/emotional violence
within a dating relationship.
PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
 Pinching
 Shoving
 Hitting
or slapping
 Grabbing
 Kicking
 Throwing
 Shaking
 Choking
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
 Unwanted
touching, fondling, or groping
 Forced sexual activities
 Pressure to have sex
 Violence that does not involve physical
contact

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Threatening to find someone who will do what
he or she wants sexually
Verbal or sexual harassment
Threats of sexual violence
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
 Name-calling,
shouting, teasing, or
bullying
 Use of intimidation (make fearful)
 Use of demeaning or derogatory
language
 Insults or rumors
 Threats or accusations
 Jealousy or possessiveness
 Humiliation
EMOTIONAL ABUSE, CONT.
Withdrawal of attention
 Withholding of information
 Deliberately doing something to make a dating
partner feel diminished or embarrassed
 Controlling behavior, such as dictating what a
dating partner can wear
 Isolation from friends and family
 Texting or instant messaging (IMing) excessively
 Monitoring e-mail or a profile on a social networking
site

NOT ABOUT LOVE
Dating violence is not about love—it is about
power and control.
 Dating violence involves a pattern of behaviors
that one partner uses to try to control the
other.
 These behaviors may include physical and sexual
violence and emotional abuse.

WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?
Perpetrators (those who commit violence) may
feel insecure or uncertain about themselves or
their lives, so they may use power and control
in their relationships to make themselves feel
better.
 No matter what excuses perpetrators make to
themselves or their dating partners for their
behaviors, violence is still their choice.
 The victim is NEVER to blame
 The victim did not CAUSE the violence

WHO BECOMES VIOLENT?
 The
following factors may contribute to someone
becoming a perpetrator of dating violence:

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Believing that it is okay to use threats or violence to get
their way or to express frustration or anger
Problems managing one's anger or frustration
Hanging out with violent peers
Behavior Problems at school
Drug or Alcohol Use
Having low self-esteem and depression
Not having parental supervision and support

Having more traditional beliefs about the roles of males and
females

Witnessing violence at home or in the community