What is Coercive Control?
Coercive control is a form of family abuse where one person uses a pattern of behaviors to dominate and manipulate their partner. This can include isolating the victim from friends and family, monitoring all their activities, including online, controlling their access to finances and using threatening behavior to create feelings of helplessness, humiliation and fear. The goal is to strip the victim of their autonomy and make them dependent on the abuser.
Recognising the red flags of coercive control is crucial for identifying and addressing this form of abuse. Here are some key signs to watch out for:
Isolation: The abuser may try to cut off the victim from friends, family, and other support networks.
Monitoring: Constantly checking on the victim’s whereabouts, phone, and online activities.
Financial Control: Restricting access to money, controlling spending, or preventing the victim from working.
Emotional Manipulation: Using guilt, shame, or fear to control the victim’s actions and decisions.
Threats and Intimidation: Making threats of harm to the victim, their loved ones, or even pets.
Gaslighting: Manipulating the victim into doubting their own memory, perception, or sanity.
Rigid Rules: Imposing strict rules and punishing the victim for not following them.
If you or someone you know is experiencing these behaviors, it’s important to seek help from trusted friends, family, or professional resources
