Domestic abuse and coercive control can include incidents or a pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading or violent behaviour, including sexual violence. This abuse is often committed by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer (Women’s Aid). Some specific examples include: 

  • Emotional or psychological 
    • Threats, humiliation, criticism and name-calling (including racial abuse) 
    • Undermining your self-confidence 
    • Controlling what you do or who you speak to 
    • Stalking 
    • Depriving you of basic needs, such as food 
    • Isolating you from your friends and family 
    • Monitoring your time, contacts, and online communications 
    • Threatening to or distributing intimate images 

  • Physical (see also physical violence) 
    • Hitting, punching, kicking, burning, etc. 
    • Use (or attempted use) of a weapon against yourself or others 
    • Threats of violence against yourself or others 
    • Depriving you access to support and medical services 

  • Sexual (see also sexual misconduct) 
    • Rape 
    • Forcing you to engage in sexual acts 
    • Forcing you to engage in sex work 
    • Stealthing (removing a condom without consent) 
    • Forced marriage 

  • Financial  
    • Not letting you work 
    • Withholding money 
    • Monitoring or controlling your spending 

Resources 

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