Tillamook County Women's Resource Center

Physical abuse often begins with behaviors such as punching walls or grabbing. As the abuser's patterned behavior continues, however, abuse often increases in frequency and severity over time. Abuse often target areas of the victim's body that are usually covered with clothing because the injuries they inflict are less likely to be visible to others.

Acts of physical abuse include:

• Pushing
• GrabbingPunching walls
• Pinching/poking
• Restraining (holding)
• Pulling hair
• Shaking
• Slapping
• Biting
• Punching – either the victim or someone else in front of the victim
• Kicking
• Throwing objects at the victim
• Target hitting
• Sustained beating
• Abuse planned to cause the victim to miscarry
• Using weapons
• Strangulation
• Homicide