There is no simple answer to the causes of adult abuse. Although the importance of understanding the specific types of adult mistreatment cannot be emphasized enough, it is also important to develop a clear picture about the characteristics of those who may be potential abusers.

Characteristics of Abusers
Substance Abuse distorts judgment and perception resulting in poor care or acting out negative feelings towards the victim.	Stress from dealing with emotional, economic, or care-giving issues may cause the caregiver to become distraught.
Symptoms of Senility, Confusion, or Mental Illness may impair ability to care for the victim and ability to understand the potential risk for the victim.	History of Abuse (child abuse or domestic abuse) which any result in deliberate retaliation, learned abusive behavior, or unconscious hostility.
Inexperience may result in a well-intended caregiver that does not know how to care for a dependent adult.	Uncaring Attitude is likely to make the caregiver callous and unable to care for the individual properly.
Financial Dependency may cause resentment, greed, hostility and/or mistreatment.	Lack of Understanding of physical and emotional problems and needs of the person in his/her care may result in mistreatment.
Isolation results when a caregiver lacks contacts outside the home and has no one to discuss problems with or provide occasional respite.	Unrealistic Expectations by the caregiver could result in abuse or inappropriate care.
Blaming the Victim for problems and directing the anger toward the victim may lead to mistreatment.	Overly Critical caregivers may become impatient and often do not make good caregivers.
Patterns of Coercive Control that one exercises over another may perpetuate abuse.	Need to Dominate through physical and/or sexual violence, threats, emotional insults and/or economic deprivation may result in abuse.

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