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Don Hennessy Biography

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“Adult intimate abuse is a process of seduction and coercion, founded on mind-control, by which an abuser establishes and maintains dominance over the partner. Continued abuse is possible, and maintained, by the abusive person's persistent and effective, lying, denying, and re-directing of blame.”

Domestic ViolenceDomestic AbuseCoercive ControlPartner AbuseIntimate Abuse
Book:Steps to Freedom: Escaping Intimate Control
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“From the time of the initial contact the abusive man is already beginning the abuse of the target woman. Firstly he is seeking a woman who exhibits some particular characteristics. Even before he begins to make contact with her he has already decided what sort of partner he is seeking. This decision is built on a belief that the relationship he seeks is one where he will be in charge. So it is disrespectful of these men to suggest that they are in an abusive relationship by chance. The truth is that the relationship they are in is the result of careful monitoring of the type of person they target.”

AbuseManipulationDominanceAbusersFaultTargeting
Book:How He Gets Into Her Head: The Mind of the Male Intimate Abuser
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“…it is easier for us to examine the behaviour of the victim than it is for us to challenge the perpetrator. This may be because the victim, be it male or female, is more likely to present to our services and thus become a burden on our resources. As a community we try to limit our involvement by getting the victim to cooperate in his/her own safety. When the abuse continues we conveniently blame the victim for his/her lack of cooperation.”

SocietyAbuseAbused WomenUnhelpful
Book:How He Gets Into Her Head: The Mind of the Male Intimate Abuser
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“If women are to achieve sexual dominance it may be that female abusers are even more skilful than their male counterparts. It might also mean that female intimate abusers use different tactics and have different goals than the male abuser. What I have found is that the effect of female intimate abuse is different and that male victims and survivors seem to need a different response. Male victims need safety and options but they are denied these supports as the community treats male victims with an even greater degree of blame than it applies to female victims.”

SocietyAbuseBlameMale VictimSocial Attitudes
Book:How He Gets Into Her Head: The Mind of the Male Intimate Abuser
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