Why do some individuals make up domestic abuse allegations?

You work hard to be a good person by holding down a job, raising decent kids, paying taxes and being a supportive friend. While you absolutely should be proud of your reputation, you also should not take it for granted. Sadly, few things can ruin your reputation faster than domestic abuse allegations.

While it is generally a good idea to give alleged victims the benefit of the doubt, not all domestic violence accusations are true. In fact, the Center for Prosecution Integrity estimates that roughly 8% of domestic abuse allegations have no merit. This leaves about 20 million Americans to defend themselves against lies.

Mental illness

Even though facts are facts, not everyone perceives a situation in the same way. If your partner has anxiety, depression or another type of mental illness, he or she may believe you have acted abusively when the opposite is actually true.

Social stigma

By now, virtually everyone should realize that domestic violence is unacceptable. Society certainly has made up its mind about abusive behaviors. If your partner wants to shame you in front of your family, friends, colleagues or others, falsely accusing you of domestic violence can be effective.

Unfair advantages

If you are going through a divorce or child custody dispute, your partner might want to gain an unfair advantage in court. Painting you as a bad person can do just that. Indeed, if a court believes you are a domestic abuser, you might end up with the short end of the stick.

Ultimately, regardless of his or her motivations, you should never let your partner get away with lying about domestic violence or abuse.