This term describes acts of violence arising from specific arguments or conflicts within a relationship. These incidents are typically not rooted in a pervasive need for control, and they are often perpetrated by both partners. An example would be pushing or shoving during a heated disagreement about finances or childcare.
Understanding this form of aggression is crucial for accurate assessment and intervention. It allows professionals to differentiate these cases from those involving coercive controlling violence, which require fundamentally different strategies for victim safety and perpetrator accountability. Historically, a lack of this distinction often led to ineffective or even harmful responses to relationship conflicts.
