Please click here to learn more about using this page safely.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

George Mason University Policies

George Mason University Statement of Information on Dating/Partner Violence, Cont.

Other Definitions

Controlling behaviors:  may include (but are not limited to) physical and sexual violence (see endnote 2); direct and implied threats of violence; emotional and psychological intimidation; coercion; verbal abuse; isolation; stalking (see endnote 3); spiritual abuse; economic/financial control; ridiculing religious beliefs; invasion of privacy; actual or threatened use of weapons; threats of deportation; blackmail; destruction of property; and/or harm to the victim's family, pets, and significant others. 

Dating/Partner: a short or long-term relationship (current or former, including marriage) between persons intended to provide some emotional/romantic and/or physical intimacy. 

Familial relationship (as defined in Virginia law section 16.1-228):

• The person's spouse, whether or not he or she resides in the same home with the person,
• The person's former spouse, whether or not he or she resides in the same home with the person,
• The person's parents, stepparents, children, brothers, sisters, half-brothers, half-sisters, grandparents and grandchildren, regardless of whether such persons reside in the same home with the person,
• The person's mother-in-law, father-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law who reside in the same home with the person,
• Any individual who has a child in common with the person, whether or not the person and that individual have been married or have resided together at any time, or
• Any individual who cohabits or who, within the previous twelve months, cohabited with the person, and any children of either of them then residing in the same home with the person. 

Family Abuse:  any act involving violence, force, or threat including, but not limited to, any forceful detention, which results in bodily injury or places one in reasonable apprehension of bodily injury and which is committed by a person against such person's family or household member.  (As defined in Virginia law section 16.1-228)

This page was last updated: July 1, 2008 . This page is best viewed using Mozilla Firefox or Netscape Navigator.

Please click here for more information about how to clear your browser history (footprints).