Coercive control - psychological violence tactics

A list of coercive control examples that can be used in a clinical setting.

• Emotional / Verbal

  • Frightens you by screaming or breaking things

  • Threatens to destroy things

  • Puts you down or humiliates you in front of others

  • Says you imagine things

  • Punishes you by withholding affection or refusing to speak to you

  • Lies about you to other people

  • Insults your appearance

  • Calls you stupid or hopeless or a loser or crazy

• Coercion/ Dominance

  • Says they will kill you or your children

  • Punishes or deprives your children to hurt you

  • Threatens to take the children away from you

  • Tries to damage your relationship with your children

  • Drives erratically/ dangerously when you or your children are in the car

  • Threatens to harm the family pets

  • Threatens to use the legal system against you

  • Dominates your personal space

• Control/ Isolation

  • Monitors or controls your day-to-day activities (eg where you go or what you do or who you are with

  • Is very jealous and possessive Tries to keep you from socialising with family or friends

  • Intimidates or controls you through looks and signals

  • Expects you to follow certain rules

  • Restricts access to essentials of daily living – sleep, work, food, education, health care, finances, visa, reproductive rights, spiritual support

• Financial

  • Uses your money without permission

  • Makes important financial decisions without talking to you

  • Controls your access to money, even for basic necessities

  • Takes your money and makes you worry about not having enough

  • Gets you to pay their bills or debt

  • Withholds financial support for children

  • Forges signatures on financial documents