What is Teen Dating Violence?
Teen dating violence is the perpetration or the
threat of an act of violence by one member of a dating relationship
against the other. Abuse may consist of slaps, insults, punching, shoving,
or rape (among other things). The abuser uses these behaviors to dominate
and control.
Because of the hidden nature of teen dating violence,
there is an increased risk to its teenage victims. And because many
adolescents consider it a normal part of a dating relationship, the
problem is even more difficult to solve.
Teens hide the abuse, and adults therefore are
unable to help.
The three recognized forms of abuse are:
