There are no excuses – the abuser is always responsible.
The abuser always has a choice to abuse someone and they can choose not intimidate or control. . They can build a relationship built on trust, honesty, fairness and respect – if they want to.
The survivor is never responsible for the abuser’s behaviour.
‘Blaming the victim’ for domestic abuse is something that abusers often do to make excuses for their own behaviour. This is part of the pattern of abuse. Sometimes abusers convince their victims that they are to blame for the abuser’s behaviour – it’s part of controlling the victim. Blaming their behaviour on someone or something else – the relationship, their childhood, ill health, alcohol or drug addiction – is an abuser’s way of avoiding responsibility for their behaviour.
But the fact is abusers have a choice – nobody ‘made them’ do anything.
Children, like adult survivors, will often feel responsible for the abuse and it is important to let them know that abuse, bullying and violence is not their fault.