When most people think about domestic violence, the first thing that comes to mind is one individual striking another. While physical abuse is definitely one of the most common forms of this crime, there are others to be aware of as well.

No matter who you are, you want to understand the many types of domestic violence. This will help you pinpoint the issue should you become a victim. Of course, it will go a long way in ensuring that you never cross the line.

Physical domestic violence can include but is not limited to punching, pushing, battering, slapping or biting.

Other forms of domestic violence include:

-- Emotional abuse: This is when a person deflates the other's self-esteem or self-worth through degrading verbal conduct.

-- Sexual abuse: This occurs when the abuser attempts to coerce the victim to engage in sexual contact without his or her consent.

-- Economic abuse: This happens when the abuser attempts to make the victim financially reliant, thus giving him or her control over that person.

There are times when domestic violence is clear cut. It is obvious that one person committed this crime. It is obvious who was the abuser and who was the victim.

There are also situations in which this is much more difficult to pinpoint, as both parties played a part in an incident.

When a person is charged with domestic violence, he or she needs to understand what this means. It's possible that one person is charged with this crime, when in all actuality both people were responsible for what happened.

Source: FindLaw, "Domestic Violence," accessed May 13, 2016