Chapter 14

Violence and

Abuse in RelationshipsKey Terms

• Violence (Physical abuse)– Intentional infliction of physical harm by

either partner on the other.

• Intimate partner violence– An all-inclusive term that refers to crimes

committed against current or former spouses, boyfriends, or girlfriends.

• Battered-woman syndrome– The general pattern of battering that a

woman is subjected to and is defined in terms of the frequency, severity, and injury she experiences.

• Battering – Battering is severe if the person’s injuries

require medical treatment or the perpetrator could be prosecuted.

• Uxoricide – The murder of a woman by a romantic

partner.

• Holding hostage– Holding one or more persons against their

will with the actual or implied use of force.

• Emotional abuse– Abuse that is designed to denigrate the

partner, reduce the partner’s status, and make the partner vulnerable, thereby giving the abuser more control.

• Stalking– Willful, repeated, and malicious following or

harassment of another person.

• Corporal punishment– The use of physical force with the intention

of causing a child to experience pain, but not injury, for the purpose of correction or control of the child’s behavior.

• Honor crime or Honor killing– When a woman is killed for bringing shame

on their parents/siblings.

• Acquaintance rape– Nonconsensual sex between adults who

know each other.

• Date rape– Refers to nonconsensual sex between

people who are dating or on a date.

• Rophypnol– “The date rape drug,” causes profound,

prolonged sedation and short-term memory loss.

• Marital rape– Forcible rape by one’s spouse.

• Child sexual abuse– Exploitive sexual contact or attempted

sexual contact before the victim is 18.

• Munchausen syndrome by proxy– A rare form of child abuse whereby a

parent (usually the mother) takes on the sick role indirectly (hence, by proxy) by inducing illness or sickness in her child.

• Shaken baby syndrome– When the caretaker, most often the father,

shakes the baby to the point of causing the child to experience brain or retinal hemorrhage. Most often occurs in response to a baby who won’t stop crying.

• Abusive head trauma– Refers to nonaccidental head injury in

infants and toddlers.

• Megan’s Law– Requires that communities be notified of a

neighbor’s previous sex convictions.

• Symbolic aggression– Designed to denigrate the partner, reduce

the partner’s status, and make the partner vulnerable, thereby giving the abuser more control.

• Granny dumping– Adult children or grandchildren who feel

burdened with the care of their elderly parent or grandparent drive the elder to the entrance of a hospital and leave him or her there with no identification.