In DV cases, a key factor in determining the dominant aggressor is which of the following?

• A. History of DV and fear-based control
• B. Physical size
• C. Number of people involved
• D. Time since last incident

Answer: (A)

In determining the dominant aggressor, the most telling factor is the history of domestic violence and fear-based control. This shows the ongoing pattern where one person repeatedly uses violence along with intimidation, threats, and coercive tactics to dominate the other. That pattern reveals who holds the power in the relationship, which is the core idea of identifying the dominant aggressor. Physical size doesn’t reliably indicate who is in control—someone smaller can be the dominant aggressor if they consistently exert fear and coercion. The number of people involved is not a determining factor in a one-on-one DV scenario, and the time since the last incident doesn’t capture the longer pattern of behavior or who has historically controlled the other.