Why won’t my friend just leave thier abusive partner?
People who are victims of relationship violence become conditioned to believe that there is nothing they can do to help themselves. Self-Esteem: The person who is abusing them may have attacked their self-esteem to the point that they believe that they deserve the abuse or that they can’t make it on their own. Fear: Your friend may stay because they are terrified that thier partner will become more violent if they leave, or because thier partner has threatened to harm them (retaliation) if they leave. Economic Dependence: They might not have a place to go, money to support themselves if they leave, or friends and family to support them. Love: They might believe that they are in love and thier partner will change because of love. Other Factors: Cultural factors, language barriers, and religious and familial pressure. Keep in mind that the average person in a domestically violent situation tries to leave the situation seven times before they are successful at leaving permanently. Support
