In Part 1 of Teen Dating Violence we discussed general information about teen dating violence. In Part 2 we discussed healthy relationships. Now in Part 3 of Teen Dating Violence we will address unhealthy relationships.

Both boys and girls experience teen dating violence.

Types of Teen Dating Violence:

  • Physical – hitting, pinching, shoving, pushing, kicking
  • Emotional – harming a person’s self esteem, verbal name calling, controlling behavior, jealous behavior, bullying, cyber bullying, purposely embarrassing the other person or shaming
  • Sexual – any type of forced sex act, rape
  • Stalking – harassing or threatening tactics to cause fear

 

Teaching your teenager about unhealthy relationships is just as important as teaching them about healthy relationships. Providing your teen with information is a way to empower him or her to recognize a bad situation and stop it.

Unhealthy relationships consist of:

  • Control – when one person makes all the decisions and tells the other what to do, what to wear, or who to spend time with.
  • Jealousy – when one person has negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values
  • Hostility – when one person picks a fight with or antagonizes the other person
  • Dishonesty – when one person lies, steals or keeps information from the other person
  • Disrespect – when one person makes fun of the opinions and interests of the other partner or destroys something that belongs to the partner
  • Dependence – when one person feels that he or she “cannot live without” the other. He or she may threaten to do something drastic if the relationship ends.
  • Intimidation – when one person tries to control aspects of the other’s life by making the other partner fearful or timid; threaten violence or a break-up
  • Physical violence – when one person uses force to get his or her way (such as hitting, slapping, grabbing, or shoving).
  • Sexual violence – when one person pressures or forces the other into sexual activity against his or her will or without consent

 

Teaching your teen and pre-teen about healthy and unhealthy relationships is important. If you see any of these behaviors in your teen’s dating relationships, talk to your teen. Teen dating violence or dating abuse is serious and can lead to other problems.

Reference:
http://findyouthinfo.gov/youth-topics/teen-dating-violence/characteristics