Dating violence is when a person uses force or pressure to put his/her date in a state of fear, or to control and dominate his/her date. The abuse can be sexual, or physical, or emotional/psychological.

• Sexual abuse includes any unwanted sexual touching, or forcing a date to take part in sexual acts. The impact on the victim can be physically and emotionally damaging. It can be especially dangerous when the perpetrator does not practice safe sex, like using condoms, thus putting the victim at risk of HIV (AIDS) infection.
• Physical abuse includes choking, punching, kicking, hair pulling, and using a weapon against the victim. This often results in physical hurt and injury to the victim.
• Emotional/psychological abuse includes insulting, belittling, threatening, destroying the property of the victim, or undermining the victim's self-confidence. It can also be in the form of irrational possessiveness or excessive jealousy.