Around 20 people per minute are physically assaulted in the U.S., according to statistics.
While numbers like that are enough to make anyone’s head spin, there are some things you can do to identify people in your circle of influence who might present red flags. People with abusive tendencies tend to exhibit certain tell-tale traits you need to know about. If you know what to look for, you can distance yourself from abusive people.
And should you see any of these traits in your own character, take corrective measures.
Keep reading to see three signs of an abusive person or someone with questionable tendencies.
- Explosive Temper
Anger is a normal human reaction when provoked. You might get angry at how you’re treated, at how someone else is treated, or at situations you don’t think are unfair. But just because anger is a normal human reaction doesn’t mean it’s okay to act out. Some people have explosive tempers that are irrational — they’re like a ticking time bomb.
One study shows that around one in 10 — 12% — say they have difficulty controlling their anger. Other findings from the survey show the following:
- 28% — more than one in four — say they’re sometimes concerned about how angry they feel
- 20% — one in five — say they’ve terminated friendships or relationships with angry people who treat them badly
Take notice if anyone in your life has explosive anger — especially if their rage is irrational. If their anger leads to them mistreating you verbally, physically, mentally, or in any other way, that’s a red flag and a sign to remove yourself from that situation. The reality is that it’s not your job to “fix” someone with anger problems. They must see their problem, get professional assistance, and put in the work to turn things around.
- Blame Game
Another tell-tale sign of an abusive person is the blame game, where someone who behaves badly blames the victim rather than themselves. The last thing you need is to subject yourself to someone who blames you for the way they mistreat you.
If someone in your sphere of influence mistreats you and then blames you for the problem, don’t allow yourself to remain in that situation. The abuser is the one who needs to recognize the error in their ways and seek to make positive changes.
- Extreme Jealousy
Extreme jealousy is yet another sign often exhibited by someone prone to abusive behavior. Such people often hide their nefarious intentions by acting like their actions are motivated out of concern for the object of their perverted affection.
An abuser acting in this way might try to separate you from family and friends, keep tabs on your whereabouts, dictate when you can and cannot go somewhere or who you can talk to, and even resort to physical or verbal abuse to force compliance.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that someone exhibiting these traits has your best interests at heart. The reality is that abuse is abuse regardless of the motivation. Your best bet is to cut any abusive person out of your life — or to take stock of your life and make the right changes if you’re the abusive person in someone else’s life.
Abuse is no laughing matter — neither is it something to be taken lightly. But it’s also vital to remember that just because someone is accused of abuse doesn’t necessarily mean they’re guilty of such a heinous and reputation-destroying act.
That’s one reason you should find a good criminal lawyer if accused of domestic assault. You’ll want to know what you’re up against and get the best legal representation.
Speaks from heart, always too passionate and driven by emotions. Spins the words with kindness & sharpness, intriguing your ever-inscrutable minds.