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hird Judicial District Court home page
Characteristics of a
Batterer
The following list points
out some of the typical characteristics of a potential batterer.
If your husband or boyfriend fits most of the descriptions below,
it does not necessarily mean that he is, or will become, a
batterer. But it suggests that he may.
- Does he "just"
slap you? Has he beaten you up "only" 3 or 4
times?
- Does he call you
derogatory names and analyze your personality in a
belittling manner?
- After he abused you,
does he then suffer intense feelings of guilt and remorse,
apologizes profusely, and overwhelms you with gifts and
promises to never again make you suffer?
- Is he extremely
possessive, jealous of your involvements and
relationships outside of your marriage? Does he phone you
several times a day just to "check" on you and
expects you to make him the center of your life?
- Does he become furious
when you do not obey him, or sometimes, for no reason at
all? Is he constantly finding fault with the way you
dress, act in public, or show him love? Does he often
accuse you of infidelity?
- Was he emotionally and/or
physically abused as a child?
- Did his father beat
his mother?
- Does he abuse alcohol,
drugs, or other mood-altering substances?
- Does he destroy
property or hurt pets?
- Is he angry at life in
general? Does he feel cheated by society, his parents,
his co-workers?
- Was he ever the victim
of trauma, such as combat, multiple car accidents, or
child sexual assault, for which he has not received
professional help?
- Does he hold
traditional ideas about male and female roles and adhere
to these ideas inflexibly?
- Is there any
possibility that you might be a battered woman?
Even if you only slightly suspect that this might be the
case, seek help as soon as possible.
