Intimate Terrorism is violence deployed in the service of (gaining) general control over one’s partner.

Violent Resistance is when a victim of Intimate Terrorism fights back physically.

Situational Couple Violence is when one or both partners are violent but neither is using violence in an attempt to exert general control over the other. Unlike Intimate Terrorism, violence is not usually a central part of the couple’s relationship.

(Excerpted from: A Typology of Domestic Violence, Michael P. Johnson; globalrightsforwomen.org)