Domestic violence and psychological abuse are identified as, "behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other" (http://www.domesticviolence.org/). Most people believe that it only occurs among women of color, who are married and living in poor communities. They also believe that the causes of it are primarily due to drug and alcohol related content (http://www.domesticviolence.org/). .
However, all of these assumptions are false; domestic and emotional abuse can happen to anyone, anywhere. According to Futures Without Violence, an organization dedicated towards addressing gender-based violence and child abuse, "women of all ages are at risk for domestic and sexual violence, and those age 20 to 24 are at the greatest risk of experiencing nonfatal intimate partner violence" (http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/). Also, women are more likely than men to be a victim of domestic violence, carried out by a former or current partner (http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org). However, with all of the knowledge and resources that are available women of all ethnicities and backgrounds are currently still victims of domestic violence.
As mentioned earlier, people have a tendency to place stereotypes on those whom they believe are more prone towards domestic violence. Yet as statistics have shown, it can occur anywhere even among highly educated college men. The most obvious questions that are usually asked are why does domestic violence occur and what are the major factors that correlate with men who inflict physical or emotional harm towards a loved one? However, since there is a wide range that domestic violence entails, there is not a straightforward answer to this question. The most common factors for what causes men to engage in violence acts toward their partner are primarily related to the pressures of gender social norms and living up to these norms. Men more prone to violence usually have a high need for control and power and implement their control through aggression, violence, and competition.