Understanding Domestic Violence: Definitions, Scope, Impact & Response

This Guide is the first of five that comprise Promoting Safety: A Resource Packet for Marriage and Relationship Educators and Program Administrators. This guide includes a working definition of domestic violence and an introduction to the network of domestic violence services that has been built in the United States over the last 30 years. An overview of key research findings related to the scope of domestic violence and its impact on adults, teens and children is also included. As in any field, domestic violence advocates and researchers are engaged in clarifying and refining basic definitions and terms to reflect emerging concerns, new realities, and increasingly diverse communities, and these are identified here. A list of key domestic violence resources appears at the end of the Guide.