Signs of Domestic Violence During the Holidays | Domestic Violence Lawyer, Wichita

The holiday season is in full swing, and while this signifies a cheerful time for many families worldwide, the increase in time spent with family, excessive drinking, additional financial stress, and current effects of Covid-19 have all factored into the heightened holiday emotions. With a significant spike in crime rates reported annually between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, instances of domestic violence are among the most common types of crime increases during this time of the year. Jonathan W. McConnell, a domestic violence lawyer in Wichita, Kansas, at the McConnell Law Firm, details common signs of domestic violence to look out for during the holiday season. Learn more about identifying these signs below!

Seasonal Factors

Coined as the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” the holiday season can quickly become riddled with added stresses contributing to a significant increase in domestic violence reports. The pressures of family gatherings, parties, traveling, and holiday shopping, things much of the world were forced to forego in recent years due to a global pandemic, are all important considerations to make when evaluating the increase in holiday crime. In general, the factors most influencing the growth in domestic violence cases include the following:

Increased Family Time—The holidays are notorious for large family gatherings, which, when combined with family members that may not get along and alcohol consumption, may lead to intense disagreements, fights, and physical altercations.

Financial Stress—In the past couple of years, individuals across the country have been forced to deal with job losses and a struggling economy. This, combined with the added pressure of purchasing holiday gifts, food, and all other holiday-related expenses, has created a perfect storm for abuse and altercations to occur between family members, friends, and spouses.

Alcohol Consumption—During the holidays, increased alcohol consumption and substance abuse can be expected. Because alcohol and drugs impair judgment and distort senses, it can significantly impact an individual’s likelihood of committing an act of domestic violence.

Signs of Abuse

While you may assume that instances of domestic violence are strictly physical, there are several types of domestic violence you should be familiar with. To understand what you should look for when identifying signs of abuse, our domestic violence lawyers recommend learning more about the different types of abuse, including the following:

Control

• Tracking your partner’s location
• Demanding your partner’s passwords to email, social media, etc.
• Monitoring your partner’s text messages, emails, phone calls, and social media
• Dictating what your partner wears, eats, or drinks
• Abandoning your partner in dangerous locations

Emotion Abuse

• Using intimidation tactics
• Extreme jealousy
• Ignoring your partner’s feelings
• Ridiculing or insulting your partner
• Shifting the blame to your partner

Financial Abuse

• Making your partner financially dependent upon you
• Regulating the amount of money your partner receives
• Harassing your partner at their workplace
• Hurting your partner’s credit score
• Hiding money from your partner

Isolation

• Forbidding your partner from visiting their family for the holidays
• Threatening to withhold affection if your partner sees others besides you
• Refusing to socialize with your partner’s friends and family
• Not allowing your partner to go anywhere without you

“If you have been accused of domestic violence this holiday season, it is best to remain quiet and not discuss the situation with anyone other than your domestic violence lawyer,” said Jonathan W. McConnell, founding domestic violence lawyer in Wichita at the McConnell Law Firm. “This includes not discussing the situation through text messages, social media, email, phone calls, or with your spouse or partner.”

Have You Been Accused?

If you have been accused of domestic violence, we encourage you to contact the McConnell Law Firm as soon as possible. While every case is different, and no conclusions should be drawn without first consulting a domestic violence lawyer in Wichita about the specifics of your case, it is always in your best interest to have a skilled attorney by your side from the beginning.