Notes from Nettrekker Article- "Victims of Domestic Violence"

Characteristics of abused victims:

• Self-esteem based primarily of self-in-relationship
• Stress reactions
• Denial or minimization of violence
• Believes abuse is deserved and adjusts to 'normalize' the abuse and violence

Barriers to leaving:

• Frequency and severity of battering
• Battered person's childhood history of abuse
• Economic dependence
• Fear
• Isolation
• Beliefs about the batterer
• Religious beliefs