If a man has ever scared, threatened or physically harmed you, then you should consider reading Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men. The informative book gives readers insight into abusive relationships and, more importantly, offers advice on how to spot a violent man and avoid him. Here, an excerpt of the book that will help you decipher the potential for violence in your relationship -- and just might save your life:

An abusive man can be scary. Even if he never raises a hand or makes a threat, his partner may find herself wondering what he is capable of. She sees how ugly he can turn, sometimes out of the blue. His desire to crush her emotionally is palpable at times. He sometimes tears into her verbally with a cruelty that she could never have imagined earlier in their relationship. When a man shows himself capable of viciousness, it is natural, and in fact wise, to wonder if he will go even further. Abused women ask me over and over again: "Do you think my partner could get violent? Am I overreacting? I mean, he's not a batterer or something."

Before I take you through a list of points to consider in examining this issue, make a mental note of the following:

Research indicates that a woman's intuitive sense of whether or not her partner will be violent toward her is a substantially more accurate predictor of future violence than any other warning sign.

So listen closely to your inner voices above all.

For more information on protecting yourself from potentially abusive partners, click here: