Last year while trying to find myself I took an adolescent development course as part of an education major’s requirement. For my final paper I researched young adult abusive relationships. As someone whose watched many a friend be part of an unstable and unfriendly relationship I found the research particularly interesting. I’m sharing this with you all, because I think it is something important that rarely gets the coverage, concern or recognition it deserves.
Abuse can be categorized as physical, sexual, psychological or emotional. Each form of abuse involves the intentional degradation and harm to one’s partner either physically or mentally. Recent studies indicate that 1 in 4 adolescents report being a victim of at least one form of abuse each year (cdc.gov, 2006).
1 in 5 adolescents reported being emotionally abused by their boyfriend or girlfriend (cdc.gov, 2006). This abuse consists of constant disregard for the other person’s feelings and self-worth. Someone who is emotionally abusive uses controlling methods such as language and mind games in order to make their partner feel humiliated, insecure and isolated.
The most common element of any abuser is his or her ability to manipulate the victim and create a sense or inequality and control within the relationship.
I feel very strongly that this is a topic everyone should be aware of, and educate themselves on. Here are some websites that provide background information on teen dating abuse as well as resources to stop it.
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