Domestic violence is usually shown as man being the abusive and dominant partner. Over the past four decades, research shows that the self-reported abuse is equal between men and women. A study by Professor John Archer of the University of Central Lancashire said that men and women are equally likely to commit domestic violence, however severe injuries more commonly affect woman.

Domestic violence is the violent abuse between intimate partners, heterosexual and homosexual relations. Domestic violence can appear as many forms of abuse: emotional, physical, or sexual. Many of the signs of an abuser is the relationship starts out normal but the longer the relationship continuous the partner became more manipulative and controlling. In some instances, both parties attempt to gain and regain control of the other without knowing.