Everybody can use a little helpful guidance in relationships. Where that advice comes from makes all the difference!
 
This section will provide some help on developing the best relationships you can---relationships that are healthy, and positive!
 
 

Teen Dating Violence

signs of teen dating violence, jealousy, possessiveness, peer pressure, intimidation, blame, isolation, name calling, anger, physical violence, sexual violence

Teen dating violence is the threat or act of violence by one person in a dating relationship.  It can take the form of emotional, verbal, physical or sexual violence.

 

Dating violence can happen to both girls and guys.

  • 1 in 5 female students reported being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.

  • 1 in 11 teens (guys and girls) reports being a victim of physical dating abuse each year.

Some signs of dating violence, like hitting and slapping, can be obvious. Other signs of dating violence, like possessiveness and jealousy, can be mistake for love. That's why it is important that you know the signs before begin a relationship.

The Signs

 

  • Jealousy.   Jealous people are jealous of you talking or spending time with people other than them. They are jealous of your friends, family and/or the opposite sex. They usually try and convince you that they have a very good reason for their jealousy. DON"T BUT IT!  They are jealous because they choose to be. 

  • Possessiveness.    A possessive person acts like they have the right to tell you what to do, where to go and who to do it with. Possessiveness is not a sign of love, it's a sign of a unhealthy person. 

  • Pressure.    Feeling like you have to do something or they will leave you?  That's pressure. They hope you will give into it. Don't give in. They should respect you enough to not pressure you. 

  • Intimidation.   Everyone has a right to their opinion and it's healthy for a boyfriend of girlfriend to tell you what they hope for. However, if they start DEMANDING that you listen to them, then they have moved from healthy to unhealthy! 

  • Blame.    Everyone makes mistakes. A healthy person owns up to their mistakes and can say they are sorry. If they blame you for their mistakes (and everything else!) run far away!

  • Isolation.   Isolation is not funny. If you no longer talk to your friends or family, your boyfriend or girlfriend will be the only one that you think really cares about you.

  • Name calling.    A person who likes, cares for and respects you doesn't call you names - period. Name calling is emotional abuse and often escalates into physical abuse.

  • Anger.   People who have explosive tempers will eventually explode on you too. Don't believe that they would never be angry with you.

  • Physical violence.   Don't stay in a relationship that has ANY form of physical abuse. At the first signs of this kind of violence, end the relationship! Physical violence includes: pushing, hitting, slapping, biting and even extreme tickling. They will say they won't do it again. Don't believe it, if they did it once -  they will do it again. 

  • Sexual Violence.   Being forced into any unwanted sexual activity is abuse - even if you had consented to it before. If this happened to you,  get help now.