Signs to look for in a battering personality.

Many women are interested in ways to predict whether they are about to become involved with someone who will be physically abusive. Below is a list of behaviors that are seen in people who beat their girlfriends or wives. The last four signs listed are almost always seen only if the person is a batterer. If the person has several of the other behaviors, say three or more, there is a strong potential for physical violence. The more signs the person has, the more likely the person is a batterer. In some cases, a batterer may have only a couple of behaviors that the woman can recognize, but they are very exaggerated (e.g., extreme jealousy over ridiculous things). Initially the batterer will try to explain his behavior as signs of his love and concern, and a woman may be flattered at first; as time goes on, the behaviors become more severe and serve to dominate the woman.