Abuse Victim Characteristics

Although there is no specific ‘type’ of person who is more likely to be abused, there are abuse victim characteristics which people in an abusive relationship tend to have in common or display. These can include:

• Low self esteem
• Emotional and economic dependency
• Continued faith and hope abuser will "grow up"
• Depression
• Stress disorders and/or psychosomatic complaints
• Accepts blame and guilt for violence or abuse
• Socially isolated, eg avoids social interaction, never seems to be alone
• Believes social myths about battering
• Believes in stereotypical gender roles
• Has poor self image
• Contemplates or attempts suicide, or self-harms
• Participation in pecking-order battering
• Appears nervous or anxious
• May defend any criticism of abuser
• May have repeatedly left, or considered leaving the relationship

Although the above list is not exhaustive and may not always indicate an abusive relationship, many abuse victims show many of these behaviours and attitudes or change in some other, subtle way.

Research would also seem to indicate that victims of domestic violence have a higher incidence of alcohol or drug abuse (this might be prescription drugs rather than street drugs) than non-victims. According to Stark & Flitcraft (1996) women who experience domestic violence are 15 times more likely to have alcohol dependency and 9 times more likely to have a drug problem than women not experiencing domestic violence. Rates of misuse of both increase after the first violent episode. According to the British Crime Survey self-completion questionnaire: Home Office Research Study 191, the risk of suffering domestic violence is also associated with increased alcohol consumption for both male and female victims.

Another of the abuse victim characteristics is suffering from what is called traumatic bonding, where, to put it very briefly, a very strong emotional bond is built up which increases the more trauma is experiences. This is why so many abuse victims feel that they really really love their abuser - they are mistaking traumatic bonding with love.

If you recognise the above abuse victim characteristics in yourself, a family member or a friend, please consider the possiblity that they may be in an abusive relationship, seek further information on domestic abuse and consider calling a helpline.

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