Violence can be seen in many different forms, from aggravated assault to child abuse and even premeditated murder. One of the most frequent types committed against women, is spousal abuse. The National Center for PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), documents that "domestic violence is the most frequent cause of serious injury to women, more than car accidents, muggings, and stranger rape combined" (1). According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, "more than 2 million women experience violence annually, and 29% of all violence against women was committed by an intimate [partner]" (D'Avolio et al, 350). Violence can appear in many different forms. Three of which are emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse. Dr. Michelle Rice writes that physical abuse includes threats of violence and acts of violence, which can include obvious things such as hitting, kicking, biting, slapping, as well as things such as threats of wrecking a vehicle, blocking doorways and means of exit, and holding an individual down or against something. Emotional abuse includes name calling, threats, preventing an individual from working, and humiliating the individual. Rice states that sexual abuse is an unwanted touch, cat call, all sexual accusation such as cheating, giving a sexually transmitted disease and of course unwanted sexual advances (1). For many victims of abuse, all three types of abuse are experienced and many times simultaneously. Many people fail to understand domestic violence and how women end up in situations where violence is prevalent. It is estimated by Deborah D'Avolio and her research associates, that 1 in 12 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime (350). Part of ...