Pit Bull

Pit Bull

The “Pit Bull” is a category of batterers within the context of a relationship. The Pit Bull’s anger is a slow build up of aggression, rather than a hot quick reaction. They are dependent on their partner and do not want to give up control. They don’t want to be abandoned after abusing their partner, so they play mind games, making their partner question if they really had been abused. Pit Bulls also keep their partners isolated from family and friends.

I had an opportunity to be informed of this reality by going on a site visit in my “social problems in the U.S.” class. We visited a staff member of the Haven Women’s Center in the airport district of Modesto. At the end of the presentation we were handed pamphlets that included warning signs indicating if you were in an abusive relationship. One of the indicating questions is “My partner hits me and then asks how I got hurt”. This question is clearly categorized as being a symptom of being in a relationship with a Pit Bull. Another Indicator which fits the description of a Pit Bull is “My partner won’t let talk to or visit my family or friends”.