INTIMATE PARTNER ABUSE AND
STALKING
Intimate Partner Abuse - ANSIntimate partners refer to people in a romantic relationship
(spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends). It also includes people who have only been on one date (if it
resulted in abuse or stalking).
This is different from Domestic Violence because domestic violence includes child abuse, sibling
abuse, and elder abuse
It should also be distinguished from spousal abuse because that would ignore the abuse of
couples who are not married.
It's important to remember that IPA is not necessarily violent.
According to Belknap, IPA is defined "as a serious form of victimization by a previous, current,
or dating partner, lover, or spouse," (p.388).
Stalking - ANSThe 1st national study on stalking defined it as "a course of conduct directed at a
specific person that involves repeated visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual
communication, or verbal, written, or implied threats, or a combination thereof, that would cause
a reasonable person fear."
In other words, a stalker is someone who persistently pursues someone against their will
causing fear and terror in that person.
Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA) Tactics - ANSVarious types of tactics have been identified
The 3 commonalities among IPA tactics (or requirements for behavior to be considered IPA) are:
1. It must occur between people in a current or former intimate relationship
2. It results in harm to the victim
3. The tactic involves aspects of domination and control
Categories of IPA - ANSNonsexual Physical IPA Sexual Abuse, and Psychological/Emotional
IPA
Abusers will use a number of tactics on their victims
, Nonsexual Physical IPA - ANSthis is what most people think of is associated with IPA; the
"battered woman." Tactics include slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, shoving, etc.
Sexual Abuse - ANSincludes a sexual nature to IPA, like oral, anal, or vaginal rape or even
beatings of the breasts or genitals.
Psychological/Emotional IPA - ANSthis is extremely harmful - many survivors claim it is the most
damaging type of IPA. This type can manifest itself in many different ways including child abuse,
destruction or property/pets, threats, social isolation, and verbal humiliation.
Stalking Tactics - ANSTraditional Stalking tactics include:
1. Following the victim
2. Walking/driving by victim's house/workplace
3. Damaging victim's property
4. Sending unwanted gifts, letters, mail, cards
5. Watching the victim
6. Making unwanted phone calls
Today, stalking has gotten worse and changed because of technology
Cyberstalking tactics - ANSinclude texts, e-mails, and GPS tracking of victims!
Stalkers or threats from stalkers should NEVER be taken lightly - they often result in violence.
IPA as a Social Problem - ANS1920's: After several pleas from activists, the U.S. finally outlaws
wife battering in all states
1970's - Today: There is much greater recognition that battering occurs. Pro- arrest laws have
been implemented, which requires the arrest of the batterer. However, these laws were often
geared ONLY toward the "pure victim" - a battered woman who:
1. Was not violent unless in self defense
2. Experienced extreme physical violence followed by emotional abuse 3. Suffers abuse in a
pattern that won't stop without an intervention 4. Is terrified of the abuse
Those battered women who did not fit the "pure victim" model were treated badly by the police.
Stalking as a social problem - ANSStalking is a much more recent emergence.
It wasn't until the 1980's and 1990's that it gained recognition as a social problem.
t gained widespread recognition because of "celebrity" stalkers (examples: Ronald Reagan, Jodi
Foster)
STALKING
Intimate Partner Abuse - ANSIntimate partners refer to people in a romantic relationship
(spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends). It also includes people who have only been on one date (if it
resulted in abuse or stalking).
This is different from Domestic Violence because domestic violence includes child abuse, sibling
abuse, and elder abuse
It should also be distinguished from spousal abuse because that would ignore the abuse of
couples who are not married.
It's important to remember that IPA is not necessarily violent.
According to Belknap, IPA is defined "as a serious form of victimization by a previous, current,
or dating partner, lover, or spouse," (p.388).
Stalking - ANSThe 1st national study on stalking defined it as "a course of conduct directed at a
specific person that involves repeated visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual
communication, or verbal, written, or implied threats, or a combination thereof, that would cause
a reasonable person fear."
In other words, a stalker is someone who persistently pursues someone against their will
causing fear and terror in that person.
Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA) Tactics - ANSVarious types of tactics have been identified
The 3 commonalities among IPA tactics (or requirements for behavior to be considered IPA) are:
1. It must occur between people in a current or former intimate relationship
2. It results in harm to the victim
3. The tactic involves aspects of domination and control
Categories of IPA - ANSNonsexual Physical IPA Sexual Abuse, and Psychological/Emotional
IPA
Abusers will use a number of tactics on their victims
, Nonsexual Physical IPA - ANSthis is what most people think of is associated with IPA; the
"battered woman." Tactics include slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, shoving, etc.
Sexual Abuse - ANSincludes a sexual nature to IPA, like oral, anal, or vaginal rape or even
beatings of the breasts or genitals.
Psychological/Emotional IPA - ANSthis is extremely harmful - many survivors claim it is the most
damaging type of IPA. This type can manifest itself in many different ways including child abuse,
destruction or property/pets, threats, social isolation, and verbal humiliation.
Stalking Tactics - ANSTraditional Stalking tactics include:
1. Following the victim
2. Walking/driving by victim's house/workplace
3. Damaging victim's property
4. Sending unwanted gifts, letters, mail, cards
5. Watching the victim
6. Making unwanted phone calls
Today, stalking has gotten worse and changed because of technology
Cyberstalking tactics - ANSinclude texts, e-mails, and GPS tracking of victims!
Stalkers or threats from stalkers should NEVER be taken lightly - they often result in violence.
IPA as a Social Problem - ANS1920's: After several pleas from activists, the U.S. finally outlaws
wife battering in all states
1970's - Today: There is much greater recognition that battering occurs. Pro- arrest laws have
been implemented, which requires the arrest of the batterer. However, these laws were often
geared ONLY toward the "pure victim" - a battered woman who:
1. Was not violent unless in self defense
2. Experienced extreme physical violence followed by emotional abuse 3. Suffers abuse in a
pattern that won't stop without an intervention 4. Is terrified of the abuse
Those battered women who did not fit the "pure victim" model were treated badly by the police.
Stalking as a social problem - ANSStalking is a much more recent emergence.
It wasn't until the 1980's and 1990's that it gained recognition as a social problem.
t gained widespread recognition because of "celebrity" stalkers (examples: Ronald Reagan, Jodi
Foster)
