Many people of both genders interpret early warning signs of abuse as attentive, caring and romantic. Here is a list of early warning signs of future domestic abuse.
Your partner insists you spend all of your free time with them in order to isolate you from family and friends.
You always have to tell your partner where you are going, who you are going with, what your plans are and when you will be home.
Your partner is extremely agitated or angry when they don’t get their own way.
Your partner tells you what you can and can’t wear and insists on going shopping with you when you shop for clothes.
You are accused time and time again of cheating, flirting or having an affair.
Your partner refers to women in derogatory slang, or is secretive about previous relationships.
The person was abused mentally, physically, emotionally or verbally as a child.
Your partner grew up in an environment where one parent abused the other emotionally, mentally, physically or verbally.
He is a charmer or a smooth talker.
He is abusive to his mother or sister and refers to them in derogatory slang.
The person has expectations that are not realistic.
The person has a tendency to be cruel to animals or pets.
The person has hurt a child in some way.
Your partner has hit spouses in a previous relationship. If so, it will happen to you too.
The person displays a tendency to have extreme mood swings for little or no reason.
Male abusers often feel women are inferior and were born to indulge their every whim.
Female abusers feel men are inferior and expect their partner to give them their full attention at all times.
Abusers like to intimidate and use threatening body language. They may throw things, punch walls or destroy their victim’s possessions.
Abusers stop their victims from leaving the room during an argument or dispute.