“A victim would never hit their abuser.”
According to studies, 23 to 71 percent of victims used violence against their abuser at some point in the relationship. Although violence is unacceptable, it is a common reaction to suffering long term physical abuse.
Supporting the findings of the national study of family violence (Straus, Gelles and Steinmetz, 1980), it was discoverd in several studies that from 23% to 71% of battered women used violence at least once against their absuers. These studies included a random survey of one New York county (Nisonoff and Bitamn, 1978, n=296), battered women who sought help for attempted suicide (Oswald, 1980, n=263), a nonrandom survey of help-seeking and non-help-seeking from shelters. (Fojtik, 1977-78, n=100;Pagelow, 1981, n=267).
Source :
Victims and Violence, Vol 1” Daniel G Saunders
Enduring abuse oer time can lead to broken down self-esteem, feeling of low self-worth and intense emotional stress or even PTDS. While it's never healthy to yell back at a partner or be violent with them, if you are experiencing abuse you might have used of of these strategies when you felt your safety was at a risk or you were trying to re-establish you independence in the relationship.
Source :
“The Myth of Mutual Abuse” The Hotline (Jessica R.)