Physical, sexual, or psychological abuse of one person in a relationship by another. Partner abuse is the most common pattern of domestic or family violence, in which one partner establishes power and control over the other through fear, domination, and intimidation. Although women are most often the victims of domestic violence, women also abuse their male partners. Partner abuse also occurs within same-sex relationships. Partner abuse generally begins with threats, name-calling, and physically destructive acts to objects or pets, escalating to violent behavior such as pushing, slapping, punching, kicking, breaking of bones, bruising, or even to the final violent act of murder. In the United States, partner abuse is considered a crime, but laws vary by state.