Genders and Verbal or Physical Abuse

One of my big interests is in studying behavior in people and in their relationships.  Unfortunately, I have seen some relationships where one partner is abusive to the other.  Sometimes this is a man being abusive to a woman, but it certainly can happen the other way as well (I have seen battle scars of some friends to show either can be the case).  No matter when this type of behavior happens, and no matter who it is between, it is clearly wrong.  No one should have to live their life treated like they can do nothing right.  No one should be frequently yelled at or threatened with abuse, let alone be verbally and/or physically abused.

I was reading some articles that said it is usually a control issue, that the abuser feels insecure and feels the need to exercise some control over the abusee.  Unfortunately the abusee often ends up seeming to feel like it is easier to just walk on egg shells and keep the abuser happy.  They don't leave the relationship, they just tolerate it.  It is definitely a tricky and difficult situation.  An abuser can't really be changed, especially if they don't want to be.  The easiest thing to say to someone is that they should just walk away from it, get away from that abusive person.  But it really is never that easy, especially if a lot of time is invested in the relationship, and especially if you're married and you have children.

Although it seems that most people view abusive relationships to exist primarily in heterosexual couples, it seems that such abusive relationships can happen between anyone regardless of gender and relationship type.  It seems that humans' inhumanity to other humans transcends all categories and definition.


Some resources:
www.aaets.org/article144.htm
psychcentral.com/lib/signs-you-are-verbally-abused-part-i/00015267
psychcentral.com/lib/signs-you-are-verbally-abused-part-ii/00015271