Question
What is situational violence?
Answer
What we know and what research shows is that situational violence is actually the most common form of couples violence. Situational violence is bi-directional. There is not one person hurting the other person or having physical violence towards the other person. Oftentimes, it (physical violence) can go both ways.
With situational violence, there are lower levels of intensity and injury. Therefore, there is not going to be significant bruising and there is not going to be any broken bones, concussions, or strangulation. Ultimately the levels of violence are lower, although it does not mean there is not going to be fear.
In addition, with situational violence, both members of the couple accept responsibility for their violent behaviors, and the behaviors are not used to gain or maintain power and control over their partner.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, The Thin Line: Assessing for Domestic Violence in Couples Therapy, presented by Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS.
