Is Emotional Abuse Considered Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence comes in many forms, but perhaps the most widely known or recognizable form is physical abuse. However, that doesn’t mean that other forms of abuse are less serious. In fact, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 48.4% of women and 48.8% of men have experienced some form of psychological or emotional abuse from an intimate partner.

What is Emotional Abuse?

Emotional abuse is distinguished from other kinds of abuse as someone who is constantly demeaning or belittling their partner to the point where it destroys the victim’s self-worth. Emotional abuse can be one of the most easily misunderstood and difficult to recognize forms of abuse as the behaviors can seem similar to other common behaviors in unhealthy relationships.

If You’ve Been Accused of Emotional Abuse

Some may think that yelling or name calling can have legal ramifications however, that is not the case. Someone raising their voice can be a simple expression of emotion. Yelling or screaming can become emotional abuse if it becomes the only way someone communicates with their partner, or if the yelling is meant to demean their partner to the point of being able to control their actions and behaviors.

Emotional abuse and other forms of abuse that aren’t physical are more difficult to prove in court than physical abuse. In a physical abuse trial, there are usually physical signs or marks, 911 calls, and sometimes, eyewitness testimonies. Proving emotional abuse is much more difficult as it is typically the accuser's word against the accused, and usually ends up with the victim filing a restraining order.

Hire a Legal Team Who Fights for Your Rights

If you've been accused of emotional abuse, your reputation can be destroyed. If your partner wants to go to trial, they could ask family and friends to take the stand and testify on their behalf. Legally, you could find yourself on the receiving end of a restraining order, and you could even lose partial custody of your children. The negative repercussions of being accused of emotional abuse could change the trajectory of your life forever.

When it comes to the law, all parties must be assumed innocent until proven guilty, but in the era of #MeToo, it’s common for outsiders to pass judgment based on only one side of the story. At times like these, you need an experienced legal representative to represent your side of the story and protect your rights.