Skip to content

Abuse Quote by Lundy Bancroft

“Have you ever heard a woman claim that the reason why she is chronically mistreating her male partner is because a previous man abused her? I have never run into this excuse in the fifteen years I have worked in the field of abuse. Certainly I have encountered cases where women had trouble…” quote by Lundy Bancroft
Download Open image
““Have you ever heard a woman claim that the reason why she is chronically mistreating her male partner is because a previous man abused her? I have never run into this excuse in the fifteen years I have worked in the field of abuse. Certainly I have encountered cases where women had trouble trusting another man after leaving an abuser, but there is a critical distinction to be made: Her past experiences may explain how she feels, but they are not an excuse for how she behaves. And the same is true for a man.””

Lundy Bancroft

About This Quote

Past trauma can influence behavior but does not excuse harmful actions; accountability remains essential regardless of history.

In simple terms: Trauma isn’t an excuse for abuse.

Key Takeaway

Hold people accountable while offering support.

Themes

abuse trauma responsibility relationships

Mood

empathetic serious

Type

educational therapeutic

When to use this quote

  • counseling
  • relationship counseling
  • legal proceedings
  • support groups

Key Concepts

psychology behavioral accountability

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we balance empathy with accountability?
  • What interventions help break abusive cycles?
A Different Perspective

Ignoring personal history can overlook underlying issues.

3.6 out of 5 (10 ratings)

More by Lundy Bancroft

Explore all 97 Lundy Bancroft quotes

More Abuse quotes

Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes