Using physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, harassment, or stalking to control the behavior of their partners is defined as domestic violence. It is a pattern of behavior used by the abuser to control their partner. The abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, economic or psychological in nature. Physical violence involves putting your hands on a person against their will, shoving, pushing, grabbing, pulling, or other uses of force. Regardless of the relationship between two people, using physical violence against someone is a crime.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, nationality, age, gender, socio-economic strata, education level, sexual orientation or religion.