Joseph Frey
Dr. Joseph Frey practices clinical psychology in Augusta, GA, where he frequently conducts psychological evaluations for the court system. Experienced in sexual and physical abuse defense, Dr. Joseph Frey understands the qualities of a person who abuses.
Domestic abuse comes in a number of forms, from physical and sexual assaults to verbal and emotional attacks. The abusive actions themselves can be as overt as punching and choking the victim or as seemingly subtle as attempting to control where the victim spends his or her time. In general, however, all abusers have a number of emotional traits in common.
People who are abusive also tend to be jealous. They want to know where their partners are and what they are doing at all times, often because they assume infidelity. This frequently correlates with an abusive person’s need to isolate his or her partner from family and friends. Similarly, the abuser tends to feel the need to control his or her partner’s everyday life, often to the degree that he or she will attempt to prevent the partner from obtaining work or pursuing hobbies.
Also often predisposed to explosive anger, the person who abuses may act out without warning or provocation. In some cases, he or she may blame the partner for these episodes of anger. If the partner does retaliate or threaten to leave, the abusive individual will try desperately to get him or her back. Once this cycle begins, it is likely to continue until the partner gets help.
Joseph Frey of Augusta GA, PhD, ABPP's Blog 