It's widely believed that 'nagging' or other 'unreasonable' provocations push the abuser to breaking point.

Research suggests that it's a decision to be violent and as such has more to do with the abuser's behaviour than the woman's. In fact, most victims of domestic violence do everything they can to pacify their partners to avoid further violence.

Violence is never an acceptable method of solving conflict in relationships, nor do partners have a legal right to assault each other, whatever they may claim to have been the 'provocation'. Nobody asks for, or deserves to be, abused. Responsibility for the violence rests entirely with the perpetrator.

Back to What is domestic violence?

This article was last reviewed by Catherine Orr Deas in December 2005.
First published in February 2003.