| Domestic violence victims know the thrill they | | | | your partner fails to express authentic concern for, |
| observe in their partners over their demise. It's as | | | | much less appreciation of, your pain. You notice, |
| though their partner derives some pure pleasure from | | | | instead, that he/she appears to be deriving some |
| the fact that they are hurting. | | | | personal pleasure that has absolutely no basis in your |
| It may even be the only time they are given human | | | | predicament. |
| attention. It may be the time they get heard, all the | | | | 2) When you are compromised socially, your partner |
| while sensing a personal delight derived from their | | | | fails to embrace that which hurts you. And, adding |
| battering partner. | | | | insult to injury, he/she may even evidence punitive |
| In contrast, they know how peculiar this is because, | | | | blaming and an air of conquest through your |
| when they themselves are a witness to other | | | | opposition's victory. |
| people's pain, they do not experience delight. To the | | | | 3) When you are the target wounded by your |
| contrary, they experience the other person's pain as | | | | partner's direct assault, he/she does not stand in the |
| though it were their own. | | | | space where you hurt, much less comfort you in |
| So, you may conclude that batterers do not have | | | | your pain. Instead the abusive partner evidences "the |
| the ability to empathize. Or they selectively | | | | look of glee." It's the smile that overcame the |
| empathize with others as it serves their own | | | | Columbine shooters' faces during the murder spree. |
| personal interest, that is, manipulatively. | | | | If you are in a relationship wherein you observe your |
| Here are some clear signs of domestic abuse with | | | | partner's delight over or in the context of your pain, |
| respect to this one particular issue of empathy and | | | | seek to understand domestic abuse dynamics. Learn |
| the lack thereof... | | | | the subtle signs of domestic abuse, as well as the |
| 1) When you are sick or in a weakened condition, | | | | obvious ones, before they spiral out of control. |