Characteristics of Victims

All of the characteristics do not apply to all victims.  However, the following are general characteristics that apply to many victims. 

• Come from every race, age, religion, economic class, educational background and profession.
  
  
• Have feelings of low self-esteem and worthlessness.
  
  
• Have traditional attitudes about the roles of men and women.
  
  
• May have experienced violence in the past, either as an abused child or as a witness of the abuse between parents.
  
  
• Feel responsible for the perpetrator's abusive behavior.
  
  
• Minimize and/or deny the abuse.
  
  
• Are ambivalent about the batterer.  They love their partner but hate
  the abusive behavior.
  
  
• Often experience many physical ailments, either as a result of the abuse or the stress associated with the abuse.  They may suffer from headaches, colitis,irregular bowel syndrome, depression, etc.
  
  
• Are fearful for themselves, their children and the future in general. Their fears are legitimate.
  
  
• Are isolated, but unlike the batterer, their isolation is imposed upon them by an exterior force, the batterer.
  
  
• Have difficulty making decisions, believing that whatever decision they make will be wrong.
  
  
• Are angry.  Their rage regarding the violence perpetrated against them may not be apparent because they are so afraid to express it. Often this anger will be expressed at a later time, which may be
  inappropriate or targeted towards someone other than the abuser.
  
  
• Not all victims exhibit traits that evoke sympathy in others
  (e.g., they may have a hard exterior).
   
  
  
• No one deserves to be abused.                

Developed by Dr. Anne Ganley

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