TEEN DATING ABUSE 101
The best way to Avoid is to Know
love is respect
org
What is Dating Abuse?
Dating abuse (or Relationship
Abuse): A pattern of controlling
behavior that someone uses against
a girlfriend or a boyfriend. The core of
dating abuse is Power and Control
2
Game of Stats
1. A comparison of Intimate Partner Violence rates between
teens and adults reveals that ________are at higher risk of
intimate partner abuse.
2.“_______of female and _________of male high school students
endorse some form of sexual coercion, including unwanted
kissing, hugging, genital contact, and sexual intercourse.
3. Teen dating abuse most often takes place in the _________of
one of the partners.
4. About ___________teens report verbal, physical, emotional or
sexual abuse each year
5. Only ___________ of teens who have been in or known about an
abusive dating relationship report having told anyone about
Answer Choices
it.
Home
77%
1 in 4
33% 67%
Teens
3
• Race
• Gender
• Age
In a study of gay,
lesbian, and bisexual
adolescents, youths
involved in same-sex
dating are just
as likely to experience
dating violence as
youths involved in
opposite sex dating.
• Sexual Orientation
• Social economic status
IT CAN HAPPEN TO
ANYONE…
Patterns of
dating violence
behavior often
start early and
carry through
into adult
relationships.
• Level of education 15.8% of Rural
• Religion
teens report
ever being hit,
pushed, or
threatened by
a dating
partner
Studies found
higher rates
of dating
violence in
low SES
groups
Among students
experiencing
physical dating
violence, 14.0%
were black
females,7.5% of
whites and 9.2% for
Hispanics. These
rates are similar for
males
4
What do you know about dating abuse; Is
this Abuse or Not?
We have been
dating for 6 months
and we haven't
had sex, is there
something wrong
with me? Our other
friends say they
usually have sex
after a few weeks.
Do you have to
go to your
friends b-day
party, I wanted to
spend time with
you this
weekend, I
should be more
important than
your friends
I didn’t mean to hurt you,;
You made me upset; You
deserved it
I love you so
much that I
don’t want to
live without
you. I’ll kill
myself if you
leave.
You are such an
idiot, that’s why I
have to make all the
decisions!
5
POWER & CONTROL
Physical Abuse
is…
• Hitting
Peer
Pressure
•Kicking
•Punching
Isolation
&
Exclusion
Using Social
Status
•Slapping
•Scratching
Sexual
Coercion
Intimidation
•Pinching
•Physically hurt
you, like bruise
from a punch
•Make you fear for
your safety
Anger/
Emotional
Abuse
Threats
Minimize/
Deny/Blame
Facts About Technology Abuse
1 in 3 teens
say they are
19% of teens in
relationships say their
partner has used a cellular
device or the internet to
spread rumors about
texted 10, 20, 30
times an hour by a
partner keeping
tabs on them
68% of teens say
boyfriends/girlfrie
nds sharing
private or
embarrassing
pictures/videos on
cell phones and
computers is a
serious problem.
1 in 4 teens in a
relationship say they
have been called
names, harassed, or
put down by their
partner through cell
phones & texting.
Technology is a
means of
constant control
Nearly 1 in 4 teens in
a relationship
communicated with
their partner via cell
phone or texting
HOURLY between 12
am & 5 am
71% of teens regard
boyfriends/girlfriends
spreading rumors about
them on cell phones and
social networking sites as
a serious problem.
5 FORMS OF
TECHNOLOGY
ABUSE…
8
Why is Dating Abuse
Prevalent?
•
•
•
•
•
Gender hierarchies
Views of “romantic” relationships
Inexperience
Independence
Peer pressure
9
•
•
•
Myth vs. Fact
Drugs/Alcohol cause someone to be violent?
MYTH: These chemicals just aggravate the situation but they don’t cause it
Women are victims of violence more often than men
FACT: The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 95% of the reported
incidents of assaults in relationships are committed by males.
Most of the time abusers will never get better because it is a learned behavior
and cannot be unlearned.
MYTH: Although it is uncommon for an abusive person to change and unlearn
their behavior, if they acknowledge their behavior and want to change for
themselves it can happen. However, no one can make them change, they have
to make the decision for themselves.
•
Jealousy and possessiveness are a sign of true love.
MYTH: Jealousy and possessiveness are a sign that the person sees you as a
possession. It is the most common early warning sign of abuse.
• If a person stays in an abusive relationship, it must not really be that bad.
MYTH: People stay in abusive relationships for a number of reasons: fear,
economic dependence, confusion, loss of self-confidence, not recognizing that
what’s happening is abusive, belief that the abuser needs their help or will
change.
10
Acts JEALOUS and frequently accuses you
of things
Constantly CHECKS UP on you by calling
or texting
Calls you names or PUTS YOU DOWN
Tells you WHAT TO DO, what to wear or
how to act
THREATENS to harm themselves if you
ever break up with them
11
The Impact
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Effects of Dating
Abuse on Teens
Depression
Feelings of Suicide
Using drugs and alcohol
Developing poor eating habits
Losing self-esteem
Self blaming
Feelings of confusion
Losing focus
Feelings of shame and embarrassment
Feelings of isolation
Giving up all social and school activities
Needing constant validation and reassurance
12
13
14
To always
be treated
with respect
To have friends and
activities apart from my
girlfriend or boyfriend
To be in a healthy
relationship
To not be hurt
Physically or
emotionally
To end a relationship
To refuse sex or
affection anytime
15
Resources
• www.loveisrespect.org
• www.thesafespace.org
• www.athinline.org
16