A myth is "a notion based more on tradition or convenience rather than fact." Personal myths about domestic/dating violence exist, which need to be looked at in order to learn about domestic violence and anger control. Learning the facts helps to dispel the myths.

1. Myth: Abuse means physically hurting someone.
   Fact: Abuse comes in many forms: physical, verbal, emotional/psychological, sexual. Inflicting fear with words and gestures is also abuse.
   
   
2. Myth: Battering or partner abuse rarely occurs. It's a thing of the past.
   Fact: One out of every four American women (26%) report that they have been physically abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.
   
   
3. Myth: Women who stay in abusive relationships must not really mind the abuse. If they did, they would leave.
   Fact: A common misconception is that a woman will be safer if she leaves. In actuality, the danger escalates once she leaves. During separation a woman is five times more likely to be killed by her partner than prior to separation or after a divorce.
   
   
4. Myth: Women are just as violent as men toward their partners.
   Fact: Among all female murder victims in 1995, 26% were known to have been slain by husbands and boyfriends. Only 3% of the male victims were known to have been slain by wives or girlfriends.
   
   
5. Myth: Abuse is a private thing that only affects the immediate victim and/or family.
   Fact: An estimated 50% of the 256,000 children in foster care are victims of abuse. Those of us who pay taxes spend $2.5 billion in Federal foster care expenditures under Title IV-E.
   
   
6. Myth: Abuse happens elsewhere, but not in my town, not in Bellingham, WA.
   Fact: According to 1997 and 1998 Bellingham Police and Sheriff's arrest reports: A combined number of 2,864 people were charged and/or arrested according to Domestic Violence violations. An additional 2,903 incidents of Verbal Abuse within Whatcom County were investigated and reported.